This month we have good news from Colombia and Brazil. However, we report on the victims of the ongoing conflict in Colombia, and the staggering violence in Brazil’s Amazon as well as police killings across that country. We focus on the challenge to Colombia and Brazil on the arrival of large numbers of refugees from Venezuela, and update the human rights situation in Venezuela and Chile.

COLOMBIA   

Good news! President Duque has publicly stated that Colombia will sign the Escazú Agreement. The Escazú Agreement is a new treaty that deepens the link between environmental protection and human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean. It has the potential to reduce the conflicts that lead to the murders of so many environmental defenders in the region.

The Colombian NGO Somos Defensores (We are Defenders) reports on the increasing aggressions against environmental, territorial and human rights defenders (HRDs). Although the number of HRDs killed in the country fell from 109 to 85 in the first nine months of 2019, the number of aggressions – principally death threats – increased from 448 to 715. Once again community leaders were the main target including indigenous and Afro-Colombian leaders. The main perpetrators were paramilitaries, followed by FARC dissidents, the ELN guerrillas and the Armed Forces.

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre records the forcible displacement of 6,200 people in the 4 weeks ending 7 December. These include indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities who were fleeing the ongoing conflict in rural Colombia. In the first half of 2019, 39,000 people were forcibly displaced by armed groups of paramilitaries, FARC dissidents, ELN and ELP guerrillas.

President Duque, in an attempt to stop the infighting among the Army high command, has relieved General Nicasio Martinez Espinel, the Army chief, whose appointment surprised many observers. Martinez has been linked to human rights abuses, including the ‘false positives’ scandal of extrajudicial executions, and he has been accused of corruption.

Colombia Reports explains why it is so hard for the ELN (National Liberation Army) to negotiate peace with the Colombian government. The article gives the background to a situation where several ELN war fronts act independently, leaving the Central Command with little authority to negotiate peace. A map of where the ELN War Fronts operate shows that it is fighting over about one quarter of the country.

A recent Colombian government White Paper (Colombia and the Migration Influx from Venezuela) aims to systematise the reception of 1.8 million refugees from Venezuela. 400,000 are returning Colombian nationals and 1.4 million are Venezuelan citizens. 740,000 Venezuelans have been regularised, while 660,000, mainly those who entered the country via uncontrolled pathways, are in legal limbo. The paper covers the humanitarian response (healthcare, education and protection for vulnerable people), security, economic integration and the huge cost to the nation. The Colombian government commissioned a report by Oxford University’s Refugee Study Centre. This underlines the challenges faced by Colombia as well as the opportunity of incorporating Venezuelans into the local economy. The country is in desperate need of international aid. [Read more…]

We held a fantastic ‪Write for Rights event at Bournemouth Library We got over 100 cards signed by passing members of the public; its Amnesty International UK annual campaign, sending greetings cards to prisoners of conscience and other human rights defenders around the world. Thanks to Jessica, Val, Michael and all the other staff at Bournemouth Central Library for being so helpful. But many thanks to all who turned out to help and those who stopped to sign cards. For more information about W4R, and details of the cases if you want to work on them at home or do online actions, go to the AIUK site:- https://www.amnesty.org.uk/write-for-rights

[Read more…]

Another eventful month, with calls from Amnesty and others for a response to the human rights violations committed during the anti-government protests in Colombia, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador.  In addition, Amnesty has issued a major report on illegal cattle ranching in the Brazilian Amazon.  There are three new Urgent Actions, two on Colombia and one on Venezuela, and a new petition calling for justice for the murder of Marielle Franco.

COLOMBIA

A nation-wide strike called by disparate social groups protesting social injustices, the faltering peace process, violations of human and environmental rights as well as possible austerity measures by the government of President Duque was met ‘with excessive, disproportionate and unnecessary use of force and arbitrary detentions’, according to Amnesty International. ‘Days before the National Strike, the government already began a campaign to intimidate and frighten those who were planning a peaceful march in support of their rights.’

The ongoing conflict in Chocó has resulted in 2,250 people from indigenous and Afro-descendent communities living under siege from the guerrilla ELN (National Liberation Army) and the paramilitary Gaitanistas Self-Defence Force. They are denying these communities access to food and basic healthcare services and have planted mines in areas where there’s mobile phone coverage. Please respond to Amnesty’s Urgent Action here. (With copies to Mr Antonio José Ardila, Colombian Ambassador to the UK, 3 Hans Crescent London SW1X 0LN.)

The NGO dhColombia has asked the National Protection Unit (UPN) for protection following death threats, theft of sensitive information and surveillance by unknown men outside their homes and offices. To date, the UPN has not responded to their request for protection. dhColombia provides legal support to victims of human rights violations and seeks accountability from prominent military members, public forces and multinational companies. Please respond to Amnesty’s Urgent Action here. (With copies to Mr Antonio José Ardila, Colombian Ambassador to the UK, 3 Hans Crescent London SW1X 0LN.)

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre reports that 4,450 people were forcibly displaced in 3 different rural areas by armed groups in the month of November. In Chocó 3,280 people were forcibly displaced by the paramilitary Gaitanistas Self-Defence Force, in Córdoba Department 225 people were forcibly displaced by FARC dissidents, while in Santander Department a further 945 people were displaced due to clashes between the ELN (National Liberation Army) guerrillas and EPL (Popular Liberation Army) guerrillas. [Read more…]