Pdf | 77.21 Kb

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Pdf | 77.21 Kb Submission to UK and Irish governments in advance of the 60th United Nations Commission on Human Rights ABColombia Christian Aid, Cafod, Oxfam GB, Save the Children UK, SCIAF, Trócaire Agencias Británicas e Irlandesas trabajando en Colombia British and Irish agencies working in Colombia February 2004 Recommendations 1. We request that the High Commissioner submit his report to the General Assembly of the United Nations. 2. We support a strong statement by the Commission on Colombia, which calls on the government of Colombia to: • comply with its duty to protect civilians and those working in defence of human rights – members of non-governmental organisations, trade unions, and popular and social organisations • take rapid and effective measures to break the continuing links between state security forces and paramilitary groups, as recommended by the UN and inter-American human rights bodies • strengthen protection of human rights, through developing and implementing a national plan of action for human rights and international humanitarian law in line with the Vienna declaration, and international recommendations • prioritise creating an adequate policy on forced displacement, which places prevention of displacement and protection of rights at its centre, and is properly funded • ensure that justice and reparation for victims of the conflict do not become casualties of talks with paramilitary and other armed groups, and that amnesties are not offered to those responsible for gross human rights violations. Decree 128 should therefore be withdrawn and the draft Bill on the reintegration of armed groups should be reformed in accordance with UN recommendations • fully implement the 24 UN human rights recommendations made in 2003 and supported in the London Declaration (July 2003) • take urgent steps to comply with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, especially the right to universal, free, basic education for all Colombian children and the development of a state protection policy for children and young people • revise military and criminal-code provisions concerning children who take part in the conflict or are recruited into armed groups, in accordance with international standards of juvenile justice. 2 Introduction For the past five years, the international community, human rights groups and other elements of civil society, have been calling on the Colombian government to account for its policies and actions before the United Nations Commission for Human Rights. As in all previous years, we, the British agencies working in Colombia, refer the Colombian government to the clear and repeated recommendations of the UN system, the inter-American system and non- governmental organisations that could be incorporated into public policy. Considering the UN human rights recommendations made in 2003 to the Colombian government and the analysis of progress made to date,1 once again the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights have been widely ignored – indeed, in many cases policies have been implemented that directly contradict the recommendations. The EU’s Council Conclusions (January 2004) and the London Declaration (July 2003) both reflect the priority the international community gives to the fulfilment of these recommendations. We urge the commission to send an unequivocal message to President Alvaro Uribe Vélez that: • respect for human rights and international humanitarian law is not ‘optional’ • UN human rights recommendations cannot be selectively implemented • the support of the international community depends upon the Colombian government making a genuine commitment to human rights. For these reasons, we press the commission for a strong and unambiguous statement on Colombia and for the commissioner’s report to be presented to the General Assembly, providing a second, more political forum at which the Colombian government can be held to account for its actions. A review of the past year It is now 18 months since President Alvaro Uribe Vélez came to power. The priority of the administration has been the development of a range of legislation under the guiding concept of the democratic security policy (DSP). Accordingly, there have been a number of changes since the last commission on human rights: • After eight months, the ‘state of internal commotion’ (SIC) and rehabilitation and consolidation zones (RCZ) were ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court and dismantled. • The highly controversial network of paid, anonymous informers has expanded considerably, as has the peasant-soldier initiative. • Mass detentions of civilians without warrant have become commonplace. • Human rights groups and other non-governmental organisations 2 (NGOs) have become increasingly stigmatised and been made targets of multiple raids, threats and attacks, as well as being subjected to arbitrary judicial proceedings. A highly controversial process of paramilitary demobilisation is already underway in some parts of the country, with a potential amnesty for human rights violations in the pipeline. An anti-terrorist Bill has also been approved by CongressYet, while the military approach to addressing Colombia’s conflict is being ever expanded, there is still no sign of the Action Plan on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) that the Colombian government agreed to last year. 1 See State of Compliance by the International Office on Human Rights – Action Colombia, OIDHACO 2 Typically, these organisations are elements of civil society, working on human rights, displacement, peace and developmen issuest; they also encompass church groups, women’s groups, social organisations and movements, black and indigenous groups. 3 An ongoing disagreement over human rights statistics is currently dominating the dialogue between the state and civil society organisations, but whatever the definitions and enumeration methods used, human rights abuses remain extremely widespread. All sides in the conflict – guerrillas, paramilitaries and the state – systematically ignore the right of civilians to remain outside the conflict, using violence, torture, ‘disappearances’, kidnapping, killings, threats and blockades to control the population. The rights of victims to truth, justice and reparation are largely ignored. The proposed alternative justice Bill, effectively offering amnesties to paramilitaries and guerrillas who agree to de-mobilise, is likely to make matters worse. The Bill may also guarantee members of the security forces impunity. The UN and the EU have emphatically pointed out that the Colombian government must respect international humanitarian law and human rights conventions to which it is a signatory. The humanitarian situation remains extremely urgent, characterised by complex displacement strategies and dynamics.3 In 2003, illegal armed groups began to deliberately restrict the movement of civilians in conflict-affected areas, effectively preventing them from displacing. They now use intimidation and threats to prevent people displacing on a large scale, while selective killings and individual or ‘trickle’ displacement have begun to replace mass displacement. The relatively slow but steady flow of displaced people is much harder to monitor and record. There are often no conditions for safe and sustainable returns, resulting in re-displacement. In human rights cases almost 100 per cent impunity remains the norm. Members of the armed forces accused of human rights abuses are still being tried in military, instead of civilian, courts. Civilian courts fail repeatedly to advance investigations into human rights violations, particularly when high-ranking security-force officers are implicated. Collusion between the army and paramilitary groups continues to be reported across the country. And the government has appointed members of the military who have outstanding, credible allegations of human rights abuses against them, in particular, the recently appointed General Ospina as head of the armed forces. In December 2003, an anti-terrorist Bill was approved in Congress on its eighth reading. This reform Bill grants judicial police functions to the military, allowing them to waive processes of judicial authorisation, contravening UN human rights recommendations. The Council Conclusions of the EU urge the Colombian government to reconsider the Bill. This brief summary of the human rights context in Colombia has highlighted some of the elements of DSP that pose particular concerns for human rights. There is more detail below on each of these key issues, which we believe should be addressed in a strong statement by the Commission. Undermining the rule of law President Uribe started his presidency by declaring a ‘state of internal commotion4 (SIC) and followed by issuing Decree 2002, the first special legislation for the SIC. This decree gave the police and security forces judicial police powers, with authority to capture, search and intercept communications without warrant, and to use the results obtained as admissible evidence. While the SIC and the ‘rehabilitation and consolidation zones’ (RCZs) were revoked after the 3 Combatants on all sides continue to use strategies that draw civilians directly into the conflict, in many cases forcing them to abandon their homes and livelihoods, in other cases controlling the movement of the civilian population through armed sieges and blockades of entire communities. Although an expert NGO consultancy for Human Rights and Displacement (CODHES) recorded a significant decrease in the rate
Recommended publications
  • The Venezuelan Crisis, Regional Dynamics and the Colombian Peace Process by David Smilde and Dimitris Pantoulas Executive Summary
    Report August 2016 The Venezuelan crisis, regional dynamics and the Colombian peace process By David Smilde and Dimitris Pantoulas Executive summary Venezuela has entered a crisis of governance that will last for at least another two years. An unsustainable economic model has caused triple-digit inflation, economic contraction, and widespread scarcities of food and medicines. An unpopular government is trying to keep power through increasingly authoritarian measures: restricting the powers of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, avoiding a recall referendum, and restricting civil and political rights. Venezuela’s prestige and influence in the region have clearly suffered. Nevertheless, the general contours of the region’s emphasis on regional autonomy and state sovereignty are intact and suggestions that Venezuela is isolated are premature. Venezuela’s participation in the Colombian peace process since 2012 has allowed it to project an image of a responsible member of the international community and thereby counteract perceptions of it as a “rogue state”. Its growing democratic deficits make this projected image all the more valuable and Venezuela will likely continue with a constructive role both in consolidating peace with the FARC-EP and facilitating negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN. However, a political breakdown or humanitarian crisis could alter relations with Colombia and change Venezuela’s role in a number of ways. Introduction aimed to maximise profits from the country’s oil production. During his 14 years in office Venezuelan president Hugo Together with Iran and Russia, the Venezuelan government Chávez Frias sought to turn his country into a leading has sought to accomplish this through restricting produc- promotor of the integration of Latin American states and tion and thus maintaining prices.
    [Show full text]
  • Yearbook Peace Processes.Pdf
    School for a Culture of Peace 2010 Yearbook of Peace Processes Vicenç Fisas Icaria editorial 1 Publication: Icaria editorial / Escola de Cultura de Pau, UAB Printing: Romanyà Valls, SA Design: Lucas J. Wainer ISBN: Legal registry: This yearbook was written by Vicenç Fisas, Director of the UAB’s School for a Culture of Peace, in conjunction with several members of the School’s research team, including Patricia García, Josep María Royo, Núria Tomás, Jordi Urgell, Ana Villellas and María Villellas. Vicenç Fisas also holds the UNESCO Chair in Peace and Human Rights at the UAB. He holds a doctorate in Peace Studies from the University of Bradford, won the National Human Rights Award in 1988, and is the author of over thirty books on conflicts, disarmament and research into peace. Some of the works published are "Procesos de paz y negociación en conflictos armados” (“Peace Processes and Negotiation in Armed Conflicts”), “La paz es posible” (“Peace is Possible”) and “Cultura de paz y gestión de conflictos” (“Peace Culture and Conflict Management”). 2 CONTENTS Introduction: Definitions and typologies 5 Main Conclusions of the year 7 Peace processes in 2009 9 Main reasons for crises in the year’s negotiations 11 The peace temperature in 2009 12 Conflicts and peace processes in recent years 13 Common phases in negotiation processes 15 Special topic: Peace processes and the Human Development Index 16 Analyses by countries 21 Africa a) South and West Africa Mali (Tuaregs) 23 Niger (MNJ) 27 Nigeria (Niger Delta) 32 b) Horn of Africa Ethiopia-Eritrea 37 Ethiopia (Ogaden and Oromiya) 42 Somalia 46 Sudan (Darfur) 54 c) Great Lakes and Central Africa Burundi (FNL) 62 Chad 67 R.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing the US Role in the Colombian Peace Process
    An Uncertain Peace: Assessing the U.S. Role in the Colombian Peace Process Global Policy Practicum — Colombia | Fall 2018 Authors Alexandra Curnin Mark Daniels Ashley DuPuis Michael Everett Alexa Green William Johnson Io Jones Maxwell Kanefield Bill Kosmidis Erica Ng Christina Reagan Emily Schneider Gaby Sommer Professor Charles Junius Wheelan Teaching Assistant Lucy Tantum 2 Table of Contents Important Abbreviations 3 Introduction 5 History of Colombia 7 Colombia’s Geography 11 2016 Peace Agreement 14 Colombia’s Political Landscape 21 U.S. Interests in Colombia and Structure of Recommendations 30 Recommendations | Summary Table 34 Principal Areas for Peacebuilding Rural Development | Land Reform 38 Rural Development | Infrastructure Development 45 Rural Development | Security 53 Rural Development | Political and Civic Participation 57 Rural Development | PDETs 64 Combating the Drug Trade 69 Disarmament and Socioeconomic Reintegration of the FARC 89 Political Reintegration of the FARC 95 Justice and Human Rights 102 Conclusion 115 Works Cited 116 3 Important Abbreviations ADAM: Areas de DeBartolo Alternative Municipal AFP: Alliance For Progress ARN: Agencies para la Reincorporación y la Normalización AUC: Las Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia CSDI: Colombia Strategic Development Initiative DEA: Drug Enforcement Administration ELN: Ejército de Liberación Nacional EPA: Environmental Protection Agency ETCR: Espacio Territoriales de Capacitación y Reincorporación FARC-EP: Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo GDP: Gross
    [Show full text]
  • Targeting Civilians in Colombia's Internal Armed
    ‘ L E A V E U S I N P E A C E ’ T LEAVE US IN A ‘ R G E T I N G C I V I L I A N S PEA CE’ I N C O TARG ETING CIVILIANS L O M B I A IN COL OM BIA S INTERNAL ’ S ’ I N T E R ARMED CONFL IC T N A L A R M E D C O N F L I C ‘LEAVE US IN PEACE’ T TARGETING CIVILIANS IN COLOMBIA ’S INTERNAL ARMED CONFLICT “Leave us in peace!” – Targeting civilians in Colombia’s internal armed conflict describes how the lives of millions of Colombians continue to be devastated by a conflict which has now lasted for more than 40 years. It also shows that the government’s claim that the country is marching resolutely towards peace does not reflect the reality of continued A M violence for many Colombians. N E S T Y At the heart of this report are the stories of Indigenous communities I N T decimated by the conflict, of Afro-descendant families expelled from E R their homes, of women raped and of children blown apart by landmines. N A The report also bears witness to the determination and resilience of T I O communities defending their right not to be drawn into the conflict. N A L A blueprint for finding a lasting solution to the crisis in Colombia was put forward by the UN more than 10 years ago. However, the UN’s recommendations have persistently been ignored both by successive Colombian governments and by guerrilla groups.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Security Policies in the Colombian Conflict During the Uribe Government
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by St Andrews Research Repository 3>6,7 <0.>;4=@ 9854.40< 47 =30 .8586-4,7 .87154.= />;472 =30 >;4-0 28?0;7607= /INGN 6NMREIPN /APIN , =HEQIQ <SBLIRRED FNP RHE /EGPEE NF 9H/ AR RHE >MITEPQIRV NF <R ,MDPEUQ &$%' 1SKK LERADARA FNP RHIQ IREL IQ ATAIKABKE IM <R ,MDPEUQ ;EQEAPCH ;EONQIRNPV AR+ HRRO+##PEQEAPCH!PEONQIRNPV"QR!AMDPEUQ"AC"SJ# 9KEAQE SQE RHIQ IDEMRIFIEP RN CIRE NP KIMJ RN RHIQ IREL+ HRRO+##HDK"HAMDKE"MER#%$$&'#()%* =HIQ IREL IQ OPNRECRED BV NPIGIMAK CNOVPIGHR =HIQ IREL IQ KICEMQED SMDEP A .PEARITE .NLLNMQ 5ICEMCE Human security policies in the Colombian conflict during the Uribe government Diogo Monteiro Dario This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 17 May 2013 Diogo Monteiro Dario PhD Dissertation Human security policies in the Colombian conflict during the Uribe government 1. Candidate’s declarations: I, Diogo Monteiro Dario, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 72,000 words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. I was admitted as a research student in September, 2009 and as a candidate for the degree of PhD in May, 2010; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2010 and 2013. Date 14 th May 2013 signature of candidate ……… 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Boletín 53.Indd
    Unidad de análisis • www.ideaspaz.org/publicaciones • página 1 Siguiendo el conflicto: hechos y análisis de la semana Número 53/ 1 de abril de 2008 The Sources of Chávez’s Conduct is this to Colombian-Venezuelan relations? Both Roman D. Ortiz* questions are of critical importance. Since Hugo Area Coordinator, Security and Defense Studies Chávez took the reins of government, Venezuela’s strategic importance for Colombian affairs has George Kennan’s classic work on US strategy vis- grown in every conceivable form. The volume of à-vis the Soviet Union, “The Sources of Soviet trade between the two countries has skyrocketed, Conduct”, recently marked its 60th anniversary.1 The with Caracas receiving close to 15 percent of text, which served as the theoretical underpinning Bogotá’s exports, totaling over $5.2 billion in for the West’s containment policy for decades to 2007. Likewise, President Chávez’s visibility within come, is a clear example of a successful attempt to the Colombian political arena has also increased, overcome the strategic bewilderment of American insofar as his Bolivarian discourse of Latin diplomatic thought when confronted with an American integration accords a central place to the ascending power that pursued unconventional political association of Bogota and Caracas. Above foreign policy objectives with unorthodox methods. all, however, the Venezuelan head of state was Thus, much of the Kennan’s merit lies in his ability catapulted into a leading role on the Colombian to propose a new line of thinking and a new course domestic political scene in September 2007, when of action in response to an emerging international the Uribe administration authorized him to serve as actor that required a novel political response.
    [Show full text]
  • Anuario Accion Human 2012.Indd
    ISSN: 1885-298X Anuario de Acción Humanitaria y Derechos Humanos Yearbook on Humanitarian Action and Human Rights 2012 Deusto Universidad de Deusto University of Deusto Anuario de Acción Humanitaria y Derechos Humanos Yearbook on Humanitarian Action and Human Rights 2012 Universidad de Deusto - Instituto de Derechos Humanos Pedro Arrupe University of Deusto - Pedro Arrupe Institute of Human Rights 2012 Instituto de Derechos Humanos Pedro Arrupe: Avda. de las Universidades, 24 48007 Bilbao Teléfono: 94 413 91 02 Fax: 94 413 92 82 Correo electrónico para envíos de artículos: [email protected] URL: http://www.idh.deusto.es Coordinación editorial: Gorka Urrutia, Instituto de Derechos Humanos Pedro Arrupe Consejo de Redacción: Joana Abrisketa, Instituto de Derechos Humanos Pedro Arrupe Cristina Churruca, Instituto de Derechos Humanos Pedro Arrupe Eduardo J. Ruiz Vieytez, Instituto de Derechos Humanos Pedro Arrupe Gorka Urrutia, Instituto de Derechos Humanos Pedro Arrupe Consejo Asesor: Susana Ardanaz, Instituto de Derechos Humanos Pedro Arrupe Carlos Camacho Nassar, DANIDA Francisco Ferrándiz, Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científi cas Koen de Feyter, University of Antwerp Xabier Etxeberria, Universidad de Deusto Javier Hernandez, United Nations-Offi ce of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Mbuyi Kabunda, University of Basel Asier Martínez de Bringas, Universidad de Deusto Fernando Martínez Mercado, Universidad de Chile Guillermo Padilla Rubiano, University of Texas Felipe Gómez, Instituto de Derechos Humanos Pedro Arrupe Francisco Rey, IECAH-Instituto de Estudios sobre Confl ictos y Acción Humanitaria Nancy Robinson, United Nations-Offi ce of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Trinidad L. Vicente, Instituto de Derechos Humanos Pedro Arrupe Marta Zubia, Instituto de Derechos Humanos Pedro Arrupe Cualquier forma de reproducción, distribución, comunicación pública o transformación de esta obra sólo puede ser realizada con la autorización de sus titulares, salvo excepción prevista por la ley.
    [Show full text]
  • Humanitarian Hpn
    HUMANITARIAN HPN The magazineexchange of the Humanitarian Practice Network October 2000g 17 IN THIS ISSUE EDITORIAL Refugee Return Welcome to this, the first edition of the bi-annual magazine of the Humanitarian Return Requires Time and Patience 3 Practice Network. So what are the differences with the Relief and Rehabilitation The UK Human Rights Act and Refugees 5 Network that you have seen around for the past six years, with its Newsletter, Changing Places: Bosnians in Britain 6 Network Papers and Good Practice Reviews? There are new names, new designs The Roll Back Xenophobia Campaign and a lower full annual subscription price. But rest assured, there is more continuity in South Africa 9 than rupture, and the changes we are making are intended to increase our value to you. Quality and Accountability The RRN Newsletter has now become Humanitarian Exchange. Why? Well, we dropped Sphere at the End of Phase II 11 ‘Newsletter’ because some of you found the label confusing since it actually covered a Using Sphere: Oxfam in West Africa 13 fully-fledged magazine. ‘Humanitarian’ better indicates the range of subjects we work Sphere in India: Experiences and Insights 15 on, which go well beyond relief and rehabilitation. The name change also signals more Gendering Sphere 17 clearly a commitment to certain values and principles, including those of humanity, The Humanitarian Accountability Project 19 compassion and a sense of service to distressed people. Anyone can do relief and The Limits and Risks of Regulation rehabilitation, including for profit, but that alone is not enough to be truly humanitarian.
    [Show full text]
  • 2012 Yearbook of Peace Processes
    Escola de Cultura de Pau 2012 Yearbook of Peace Processes VICENÇ FISAS Peace Processes 2012.indd 1 04/04/2012, 13:45 Publisher: Icaria editorial / Escola de Cultura de Pau, UAB Printing: Romanyà Valls, SA Design: Lucas J. Wainer ISBN: 978-84-9888-427-2 Legal Deposit: B-9288-2012 This yearbook was written by Vicenç Fisas, Director of the UAB’s Escola de Cultura de Pau, in conjunction with several members of the Escola’s research team, including Patricia García, Josep María Royo, Jordi Urgell, Pamela Urrutia, Ana Villellas and María Villellas. Peace Processes 2012.indd 2 04/04/2012, 13:45 CONTENTS Glossary . 5 Introduction . 11 Usual stages in negotiation processes . 14 Main conclusions of the year . 15 Peace processes in 2011 . 16 The peace temperature in 2011. 21 Conflicts and peace processes in recent years. 22 Witnesses in peace negotiations. 25 DDRs in 2011 . 27 Analyses by countries AFRICA. 35 Western Africa. 35 SENEGAL (Casamance) . 35 Horn of Africa. 40 ETHIOPIA (Ogaden) . 40 SOMALIA . 44 SUDAN (Darfur) . 49 Great Lakes and Central Africa . 56 CHAD . 56 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC . 61 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (East) . 65 Maghreb . 70 WESTERN SAHARA . 70 LATIN AMERICA . 81 COLOMBIA. 81 ASIA. 93 Southern Asia . 93 AFGHANISTAN . 93 INDIA . 99 INDIA – PAKISTAN (Kashmir) . 109 Eastern Asia . 114 CHINA (Tibet) . 114 Southeast Asia . 117 MYANMAR . 117 PHILIPPINES (MILF, NPA, MNLF). 123 EUROPE . 137 Western Europe . 137 SPAIN (Basque Country) . 137 Peace Processes 2012.indd 3 04/04/2012, 13:45 South Eastern Europe . 152 CYPRUS . 152 KOSOVO / KOSOVA . 156 MOLDOVA (Transnistria) . 160 TURKEY (PKK) .
    [Show full text]
  • Aproximaciones a La Historia Del Humanitarismo En América Latina Y El Caribe
    HPG Working Paper Aproximaciones a la historia del humanitarismo en América Latina y el Caribe Editado por Irina Mosel, Christina Bennett y Hanna Krebs Diciembre 2016 HPG Humanitarian Policy Group Agradecimientos Las editoras quieren agradecer a todos los que con su trabajo contribuyeron a que la conferencia en Bogotá fuese todo un éxito y a todos los que han contribuido a la realización de esta publicación. Un especial agradecimiento al Instituto de Estudios Humanitarios (IEH) y a la Oficina de la ONU para la Coordinación de Asuntos Humanitarios (OCHA) en Bogotá por su excepcional organización de la conferencia, y especialmente a Jeffrey Villaveces, Liliana Carvajal, Luis Hernando Aguilar y Gerard Gómez por sus esfuerzos; al Instituto de Estudios sobre Conflictos y Acción Humanitaria (IECAH) por su colaboración en la conferencia y sobre todo gracias a Francisco Rey y Laura Langa por toda su ayuda y paciencia con la traducción y finalización de la edición española; a Sophie Duval por realizar una excelente revisión documental que ha servido a las editoras como documento de referencia para elaborar la introducción; y gracias también a Hernán Darío Correa por su excelente revisión editorial de esta compilación y a Matthew Foley de HPG por su apoyo constante. Humanitarian Policy Group Overseas Development Institute 203 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8NJ United Kingdom Tel. +44 (0) 20 7922 0300 Fax. +44 (0) 20 7922 0399 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.odi.org/hpg © Overseas Development Institute, 2016 Readers are encouraged to quote or reproduce materials from this publication but, as copyright holders, ODI requests due acknowledgement and a copy of the publication.
    [Show full text]
  • Colombia's Peace Processes: Multiple Negotiations, Multiple Actors
    LATIN AMERICAN PROGRAM SPECIAL REPORT DECEMBER 2006 Colombia’s Peace Processes: Multiple Negotiations, Multiple Actors Cynthia J. Arnson, Jaime Bermúdez, Father Darío Echeverri, David Henifin, Alfredo Rangel Suárez, León Valencia INTRODUCTION by Cynthia J. Arnson1 Efforts to bring Colombia’s long-running time, government negotiators and guerrilla internal armed conflict to an end through commanders of the smaller National political negotiations continued to face major Liberation Army (ELN) continued to meet in obstacles in 2006. In August, the government Havana, Cuba. Despite an atmosphere of of President Álvaro Uribe Vélez succeeded in goodwill and high expectations, the two sides demobilizing the last contingent of fighters of appeared to remain far apart on the actual con- the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia tent of the negotiating agenda as well as (AUC), the principal paramilitary coalition. whether or not the opening of formal talks That brought to a total of 31,671 the number would be conditioned on a cease-fire. of men and women demobilized as a result of the peace talks with the government that THE AUC PROCESS began in July 2003.2 This singular accomplish- ment was diminished throughout the year, Even before the eruption of a new political however, by disputes with paramilitary leaders scandal in late 2006 regarding paramilitary infil- over the terms of their demobilization and by tration of the Colombian Congress, and as scandals highlighting the AUC’s continued detailed in previous publications,3 the Uribe involvement in assassinations, drug-trafficking, government’s peace talks with the AUC and infiltration of government institutions, remained mired in controversy.
    [Show full text]
  • Future of the Humanitarian System: Impacts of Internal Changes
    © UNDP Bangladesh Future of the Humanitarian System: Impacts of Internal Changes John Borton John Borton Consulting Berkhamsted, UK November 2009 The Humanitarian Horizons research was made possible through generous grants from Catholic Relief Services, the International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, World Vision Australia, World Vision Canada, and World Vision International, with additional financial support from the Ford Foundation. TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... 1 Section 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 3 Section 2. Recent trends and the principal features of the humanitarian system in 2009 .. 4 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 4 Problems of definition ........................................................................................................... 4 Resourcing the system ........................................................................................................... 7 Operational space ................................................................................................................. 12 Modes of operation .............................................................................................................. 14 Principal actors.....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]