Indigenous People in Latin America face grave challenges for their survival.

By the US Office on Colombia and the Washington Office on Latin America

Indigenous leaders from Peru, Colombia and Panama told the US Congress yesterday of grave, continued and systematic violations to their rights that are pushing many indigenous communities in the region to the brink of physical and cultural extinction.

The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the House of Representatives yesterday held the first of a series of hearings on the rights of indigenous communities. Daisy Zapata Fasabi representing the Yine community in Peru, Estanislao Bejerano and Feliciano Santos representing the Ngobe people of Panama, and Dario Mejía representing the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia, testified for Congress on the grave and multiple challenges that the indigenous communities in Latin America face for their survival.

Dario Mejia from Colombia said he was worried about the role of the United States in supporting policies that may violate indigenous rights, including: funding for the Colombian military that has been responsible for human rights abuses against indigenous peoples, fumigations that have led to forced displacement, illnesses and loss of community crops; and the extradition of paramilitary leaders to the US on drug trafficking charges which has impeded victims’ right to truth and justice.

However, Mr. Mejia told Congress that Colombia’s indigenous people were pleased to see the introduction of House Resolution 1224 by Representative Hank Johnson of Georgia on Recognizing and honoring the important work that Colombia's Constitutional Court has done on behalf of Colombia's internally displaced persons, especially indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombians, and women.

Congress heard that more than 64 Colombian indigenous groups were at risk of extinction and that 80% of indigenous territories had been conceded for the implementation of economic projects without respect for indigenous communities’ right to previous consultation.

"Forced displacement has become the rule for many indigenous communities in Colombia. Only in 2009 there were 6,201 indigenous people displaced from their ancestral lands,” Mr. Mejia said. "Between 2002 and 2008, over 70,000 indigenous people were registered for individual or collective internal displacement”.

The US Office on Colombia (USOC) and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) supported the participation of Dario Mejia from the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia in the hearing. For more information please go to www.usofficeoncolombia.org or www.wola.org

Colombia in the US News l Colombia en la Prensa Estadounidense

The Washington Post published a piece on the recent statement of the International Red Cross about the armed conflict and the ongoing humanitarian tragedy of forced displacement in Colombia, and how it has been ignored by the current presidential campaigns.The Wall Street Journal reported on the surprising turn in the presidential run in Colombia, as Antanas Mockus is leading the recent polls. The journal states that Mockus possible win could mean “fresh leadership for Washington’s biggest regional ally”.The Los Angeles Times reported that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates expressed his support of the US-Colombia free trade agreement. The FTA is currently stalled due to Colombia’s poor record in labor and human rights. The BBC reported on the arrest of paramilitary leader Hector Jose Buitrago, who refused to demobilize in 2005. Buitrago has been charged with multiple killings, displacement, forced disappearances and drug trafficking.
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El Washington Post publicó un reportaje sobre las recientes declaraciones de la Cruz Roja Internacional sobre el conflicto armado interno en Colombia, y sobre la tragedia humanitaria del desplazamiento forzado, y como esta ha sido ignorada por las actuales campañas presidenciales. El sorprendente giro en la intención de voto en la campaña presidencial en Colombia, fue objeto de un artículo recientemente en el Wall Street Journal. El Journal afirmó que la posibilidad de que el partido verde, encabezado por Antanas Mockus, gane las elecciones podría significar “un liderazgo fresco para el mayor aliado de Washington en la región”. El Los Angeles Times reportó sobre las recientes declaraciones del Secretario de Defensa Robert Gates en favor del tratado de libre comercio entre Estados Unidos y Colombia. El tratado no ha sido ratificado por el Congreso Estadounidense debido a los pobres indicadores en materia de derechos humanos y derechos laborales en Colombia. Por último la BBC reportó sobre el arresto del líder paramilitar Hecto José Buitrago, quien se nego a desmovilizarse en el 2005. A Buitrago se le acusa de múltiples asesinatos, desplazamientos, desapariciones forzadas y tráfico de drogas.

Terrorist Attack points to ongoing violence in key city for US-Colombia FTA

By: Kelly Nicholls, US Office on Colombia, Gimena Sanchez, Washington Office on Latin America, Charo Mina Rojas, AFRODES USA, Joseph Jordan, NASGACC

Recently a car bomb exploded in Colombia’s port city of Buenaventura killing nine people and leaving 60 others injured. This incident underscores the insecurity faced by civilians – the majority of whom are Afro-descendants - in this Pacific port, known for drug smuggling and high homicide rates. A port that the US plans on utilizing as a major point of export and import should the US-Colombia free trade agreement pass in the future.

The bomb exploded on the morning of March 24 in the heart of the downtown center right between the Mayor and the Attorney-General’s offices. While authorities have said they suspect the leftist FARC rebels to be responsible, they have not ruled out the possibility that the bomb was planted by the drug smuggling groups in retaliation for the Attorney-General’s drug investigations

National and local authorities have convinced some in the US Congress that the security problem in the port city is improving, with a noted decrease in homicides. However, in our recent trip to Buenaventura in February as part of the International Pre-Electoral Monitoring Mission, we witnessed that levels of violence had not decreased as such, but rather there were new modalities of violations and crime.

Previously, both the left-wing militia and the right-wing paramilitaries had control of different neighborhoods in the urban center and fought for control of the waterfront communities, which are key real-estate for drug smuggling. However, we heard that in October 2008 the paramilitaries gained control of all of this area. Many local organizations and residents allege that the armed forces openly collaborated with the paramilitary groups to oust the militia.

Subsequently the high levels of homicides caused during the fighting between the two groups have decreased. However, what has replaced this is truly disturbing. Local authorities and organizations report an increase in forced disappearances, where people go missing and are either never found or their remains - generally cut into pieces with chainsaws - are discovered in the waterways by local fisherman.

During a tour of some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Buenaventura, we were told of torture homes, where victims are allegedly cut up with chainsaws, – often while still alive. One young man even reported having witnessed such an atrocity on the street in broad daylight.

Six forced disappearances were reported to the local authorities in January 2010. However, there is a significant sub-registration of this crime due to lack of trust on the part of witnesses and families of the victims in the armed forces and governmental institutions. We were told on numerous occasions that those who reported forced disappearances to the local police or the attorney-general’s office were often targeted by the groups who committed the crime.

The mission also heard of an increase in violent murders of Afro-Colombian women on the part of the illegal armed groups. Local activists refer to these murders as “femicides” as they believe they are an attempt to silence women leaders who are denouncing human rights abuses.

Young people, often Afro-Colombian teenagers, have been particularly affected by the conflict, and are often recruited into the illegally armed groups as young as 9 or 10 to act as informants or to move arms between neighborhoods. Likewise, young girls from 10-years of age are already being forced into prostitution. These young people are easy prey as they live in extreme poverty with little access to education and employment, especially Afro-Colombian kids who suffer from structural racism and marginalization.

Following last week’s car bomb local authorities have asked for an increased militarization of the city. Yet, will this have a real effect on reducing violence and crime when there are innumerous reports of collaboration between the paramilitary groups and the armed forces?

According to locals, paramilitary groups control all aspects of daily life in the urban center, restricting the movements of inhabitants, extorting them, charging “vacunas” or taxes on all aspects of the local economy, imposing curfews in some neighborhoods and committing human rights abuses, such as killings, torture, forced disappearances and rape. During the mission we were told repeatedly that these groups operate very openly in front of the armed forces.

Buenaventura is also a major receptor of internally displaced persons, as well as having a considerable amount of intra-urban displacement. This is likely to be exacerbated with the government’s megaproject to develop a lot of the foreshore of the island into a tourism area, while also amplifying the port in order to increase its capacity to move containers and cargo. Currently, approximately 3,400 families belonging to five neighborhoods are residing in this foreshore area. The port amplification and tourism projects anticipate the displacement of all of these families from this zone, and they have yet to consult these communities about their plans. While they are building some alternative housing, locals are concerned that seeing as the majority of them are fishermen, if they are moved inland they will no longer be able to sustain themselves and their families. Furthermore, if the underlying causes of the conflict are not addressed, moving them will only exacerbate the problem.

Despite the great obstacles to security that Buenaventura faces due to the rampant drug trade, internal armed conflict, weak institutions, corruption and alleged cooperation between the illegally armed actors and the military, it can serve as an opportunity for the US government to do the right thing. Rather than exacerbating the problem by supporting further militarization of the area, the US can help Colombia deal with the underlying causes of violence in this area. The US government should insist that local and national authorities combat impunity in the cases of forced disappearances and homicides, launch an independent investigation into the alleged cooperation between the illegally armed groups and the armed forces, prosecute those who collude with drug networks and properly address the displacement problem. Prior to considering an FTA with Colombia the US would serve its own interests, including its drug policy goals, if it were to address these underlying concerns, protecting the rights of Afro-Colombian residents and ensuring that terrorist acts such as the one that took place last week cease in Buenaventura.

“Don Mario’s” List l La Lista de "Don Mario"

The ex-paramilitary boss and king pin, Daniel Rendón Herrera, better known as ‘Don Mario’, was arrested in April of 2009. Although captured in Antioquia Colombia, the United States has continually asked that this ex paramilitary boss be extradited to the United States’ Southern District of New York for federal crimes and terrorism. The Colombian Supreme Court has just denied this request for the fourth time, citing that Don Mario must first complete his obligation to Colombia’s Justice and Peace Process, upholding the right to justice, truth and reparation of the numerous victims in Colombia.

Being held in Colombia since his capture, Don Mario has not only revealed the details to coca gathering, cocaine lab processing, and illegal selling, but he has also been an extremely valuable witness to paramilitary links with the state.

And The List Continues…

Operating mostly in Meta, Casanare, and Guaviare, Don Mario’s illegal paramilitary activities are now showing to have been deeply linked to the police, military, politicians and DAS in these regions.

• Captain Chalá, second commander of the Gaula Army, allegedly met regularly with the paramilitary group to discuss war strategy. For his help, he received 400 in total million pesos (approx. $208,000).
  
• Retired General Mario Montoya, also current ambassador to the Dominican Republic, is said to have received 15 million pesos from Don Mario’s group. The ‘para’ boss adds that this assistance was crucial for success of several missions.
  
• Colonel Hector Alejandro Cabuya, commander of the 21st Vargas Battalion in Meta allegedly worked with the illegally armed group to plan extrajudicial killings. Don Mario chillingly recalls Cabuya clearly stating that he wanted “three young men and three rifles” without capture; these three victims were indeed later proven to be extrajudicial killings. In total, Don Mario claims that they dressed up more than 180 civilian corpses to look like guerilla soldiers that died in combat, thanks to their partnership.
  
• Pertaining to other branches of the state, Don Mario recalls that DAS detective, Andrés Moreno, supposedly sold the paramilitaries a machine gun, and the ex sub-director of the DAS in Yopal was also said to be of assistance to their group.
• In addition, Don Mario confirms that his paramilitary group, paid a monthly rate of 7 million pesos (approx. $3,600) to commanders of eight police stations, and Meta alone was receiving 120 million pesos (approx. $62,400) monthly for bribes to both the police and army.

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El ex jefe paramilitar y narcotraficante Daniel Rendón Herrera alias “Don Mario” fue arrestado en Abril de 2009, tras un extenso operativo de la polícia. Desde que se dió su captura en Antioquia el gobierno de los Estados Unidos ha pedido insistentemente su extradición a este país, para que responda por los delitos de narcotráfico. Sin embargo la Corte Suprema de Justicia ha negado la petición de extradición en repetidas ocasiones afirmando que alias “Don Mario” debe responder por los crimenes cometidos en Colombia, garantizando así la posibilidad de las víctimas a acceder a la verdad, la justicia y la reparación.

Desde su captura Don Mario no sólo ha colaborado en la entrega de rutas y laboratorios para el procesamiento y tráfico de cocaína, si no que también ha colaborado con valiosa información sobre los nexos de los paramilitares a su mando con funcionarios del Estado.
Y la Lista Continúa. Revelaciones recientes han mostrado que las operaciones ilegales de “Don Mario”, que se concentraron principalmente en el Meta, Casanare y Guaviare, tuvieron estrechos vínculos con la polícia, las fuerzas armadas, funcionarios del DAS y políticos de estos departamentos.

Y la lista Continúa:

• El Capitán Chalá, segundo comandante del GAULA, supuestamente se reunía con el grupo paramilitar para discutir estrategia militar. Por su colaboración, “Don Mario” afirma, que recibía 400 millones de pesos.
  
• El General Retirado Mario Montoya, embajador ante la República Dominicana, presuntamente recibió de la agrupación 15 millones de pesos por su colaboración. El ex-jefe paramilitar asegura que la asistencia de Montoya fue crucial para el éxito de muchas misiones.
  
• Coronel Hector Alejandro Cabuya, comandante del Batallón Vargas número 21 con sede en el Meta, presuntamente planeó junto con el grupo paramilitar de alias “Don Mario” la muerte de tres jóvenes. “Don Mario” afirma que Cabuya le dijo que quería “tres jóvenes y tres rifles” y ninguna captura; las tres víctimas luego fueron presentadas como muertes en combate. Don Mario asegura que más de 180 personas asesinada, para luego ser vestidas como guerrilleras y presentadas muertas en combate, en alianza con el ejército.
  
• “Don Mario” también hizo señalamientos en contra de un detective del DAS, Andrés Moreno, por haber vendido supuestamente al grupo que él comandaba una ametralladora, de igual manera señalo al sub-director del DAS seccional Yopal de tener vínculos con su agrupación.
• Finalmente, “Don Mario”, confirma que su agrupación pagó 7 millones de pesos mensuales a 8 comandantes de diferentes estaciones de polícia en el Meta, y que a ese mismo departamento se destinaban desde su organización alrededor de 120 millones de pesos mensuales para pagos de polícias y oficiales del ejército.