Christian Peacemaker Teams chart humanitarian law violations in Colombia

Christian Peacemaker Teams chart humanitarian law violations in Colombia
By agency reporter
3 Mar 2009
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Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in Colombia has released its compilation International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations witnessed by or reported to the Colombia team in the calendar year of 2008.

The Colombian government officials maintain that paramilitary groups are now "extinct." CPT's documentation provides evidence that paramilitary activity continues in the Bolivar and Santander. New generations of paramilitary groups continue to commit the majority of the violations. Allied with the Armed Forces, they operate with impunity.

Many of these violations are directed at human rights workers, community leaders, and union organizers. Team members report, "We have yet to see any real progress toward the rule of law and a negotiated peace."

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Three principle actors in Colombia's armed conflict committed the International Humanitarian Law violations that this report covers: the Armed Forces with 20 violations documented; the paramilitary groups with 21 cases documented; and the guerrilla groups with 5 cases documented.

More:
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/8850