With aid request looming, Human Rights group provides evidence to
Congress that aiding Colombian Army assists paramilitary forces
(WASHINGTON, DC)With an Administration request of up to one billion
dollars for anti-drug efforts for Andean nations, human rights leaders
in Congress have distributed an Amnesty International report providing
indisputable evidence of the link between the Colombian Army and
murderous paramilitary forces. The looming aid package earmarks
significant resources for the Colombian Army.
The report, "Barrancabermeja: A city under siege," focuses on a May 16,
1998 massacre, subsequent killings, and "disappearances" by the
paramilitaries in that strategic oil port. The report exposes the
atrocities that paramilitary forces carried out, outlines their
strategy, and highlights the Army's complicity in the attacks. Reps. Tom
Lantos (D-CA) and John Porter (R-IL), co-chairs of the Congressional
Human Rights Caucus, jointly distributed the Amnesty International
report to the entire House and Senate.
"This report exposes the unavoidable -- and tragic -- reality that
helping the Colombian Army will inevitably help the paramilitary
forces," said Carlos Salinas, Advocacy Director for Latin America and
the Caribbean at Amnesty International USA. "Our report documents the
link between the paramilitary forces and the Colombian Army, and should
serve as a warning to the United States government that it should not
fund a military involved in killing its own citizens. In short, the
United States government should remove itself from death-squad
politics."
[Source: AI - USA September 16, 1999]
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For further information: For a complete copy of the report, please go to
www.amnestyusa.org/countries/colombia
or call Amnesty International USA,
at 202-544-0200.
-----------------------------------------
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
- Colombia: human rights reports, information and resolutions by
international bodies, articles on
human rights, Colombian Legislation, etc.
http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/colombia/
- Venezuela: human rights reports, information and resolutions by
international bodies, articles on
human rights, Venezuelan Legislation, etc.
http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/venezuela/
- An Appraisal of Technologies of Political Control. By Scientific and
Technological Options
Assessment - STOA http://jya.com/stoa-atpc.htm
- Informe Global sobre los refugiados en la frontera Venezolano
Colombiana / Global report on the
Colombian refugees who sought shelter in the Venezuelan border.
[ESP/SPA]
http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/venezuela/doc/refu.html
- El Desarrollo Globalizador y los Pueblos Indigenas de Colombia.
Organizacion Nacional Indigena
de Colombia / Global development and the Indigenous Peoples of Colombia.
By the Colombian
National Indigenous Organization. [ESP/SPA]
http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/colombia/doc/inglodes.html
- Colombia y el Derecho Internacional Humanitario Human Rights Watch,
1998 / Colombia and
International Humanitarian Law. By HRW, 1998. [ESP/SPA]
http://www.hrw.org/spanish/reports/colombia/
- Informe de la situacion de violencia / Report on the violence
situation. [ESP/SPA]
http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/colombia/doc/informe.htmlcia
- Current Human Rights Situation in Colombia. Flor Alba Romero, 1999.
[ESP/SPA]
http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/colombia/articulos.html
- Question of the impunity of perpetrators of human rights violations
(civil and political). Revised final
report prepared by Mr. Joinet pursuant to Sub-Commission decision
1996/119. [E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/20/Rev.1 ]
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu4/subrep/97sc20r1.htm
- Final report on the question of the impunity of perpetrators of human
rights violations economic,
social and cultural rights), prepared by Mr. El Hadji Guissé, Special
Rapporteur, pursuant to
Sub-Commission resolution 1996/24. [E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/8]
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu4/subrep/97sc8.htm
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Human Rights Team. Nizkor is a member of the Peace and Justice
Service-Europe (Serpaj),
Derechos Human Rights (USA) and GILC (Global Internet Liberty Campaign).
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