Santos - Not President of the Peasants
News from Colombia | on: Tuesday, 21 February 2012
The Colombian government has called its efforts to return lands to victims ‘revolutionary’, but the figures show that the government has been engaged in an immense PR exercise glossing over the shortcomings of the Land and Victims’ Law, claims opposition Congressman Jorge Robledo. So far in 2010 and 2011 the read moreTrade Unionist Killed in Cali
News from Colombia | on: Monday, 20 February 2012
SINTRAMASIVO, the Cali transport workers' union has reported the killing on February 15th, of one of its founding members, Efrain Amezqueta. Mr Amezqueta was a member of the SINTRAMASIVO leadership and had been active in denouncing labour violations in the Cali transport system, as well as defending the right to read more 
FENSUAGRO Thanks JFC Members
News from Colombia | on: Thursday, 16 February 2012
FENSUAGRO, the Colombian agricultural workers' union and sister union of Unite and USW, has written to Justice for Colombia to thank our members for their work in highlighting the human rights abuses in Colombia, and for the work JFC carries out in favour of their affiliates. FENSUAGRO has had over read more 
Peasants Report Shellings and Possible Displacement
News from Colombia | on: Thursday, 16 February 2012
The Ascamcat peasant trade union of Catatumbo has reported army units shelling the village of Santa Fe near the town of El Tarra on several occasions. The villagers report bombs landing 200 metres from people’s homes. The most recent case of shelling occurred on the evening of February 12th. The read more 
Colombian Town Prepares Peace Anniversary
News from Colombia | on: Thursday, 16 February 2012
The town of San Vicente del Caguan in Southern Colombia is preparing to mark the 10th anniversary of the end of the 1998-2002 peace negotiations between the FARC and the government of President Andres Pastrana. San Vicente was the capital of the ‘demilitarised zone’ which was granted by the read more 
Civilian Killed by Police During Fighting in Cauca.
News from Colombia | on: Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Human Rights organisations have reported fighting in the departments of Cauca and Narino, with civilian casualties and damage to civilian homes. On 7th February fighting took place in Las Guaces, in the municipality of Corinto in Cauca department. During the fighting between the army’s 8th counterinsurgency battalion and the FARC’s read moreWelsh Assembly tables Statement of Opinion calling for a peace process in Colombia
Justice For Colombia News | on: Wednesday, 15 February 2012
On 1st February 2012, Justice for Colombia Wales tabled Statement of Opinion OPIN-2012-0057 - Peace and Justice for Colombia, calling on the Welsh and UK governments to support a negotiated end to the armed conflict in Colombia. The Statement notes calls by significant sectors of Colombian civil society for read moreRights NGO Reports Civilians Hurt in Heavy Fighting
News from Colombia | on: Wednesday, 8 February 2012
The Francisco Cifuentes human rights organisation in Southern Colombia has reported a series of battles in the region in which troops have injured civilians. They accuse the armed forces of fighting in populated areas, of causing damage to civilian homes and to religious and cultural centres, as well as wounding read more 
Colombia's Prisons - Bastions of Inequality and Injustice
News from Colombia | on: Wednesday, 8 February 2012
This is a translation of an article by former political prisoner Dr Miguel Angel Beltran. He was released from prison in June 2011 after being held for more than two years before being absolved of the charges against him. Justice for Colombia and UCU led an international campaign for read more 
Forced Recruitment of Civilians Continues
News from Colombia | on: Tuesday, 7 February 2012
From Voz: In November 2011 the Constitutional Court of Colombia ruled that the ‘batidos’, or searches, that the army used to draft youths into the army constituted a form of forced recruitment and were therefore illegal. The court ruled that those that had not yet been registered for service could read morePrisoner Release Delayed
News from Colombia | on: Monday, 6 February 2012
The unilateral liberation of 6 prisoners being held by FARC guerrillas has been delayed. According to a guerrilla communiqué, the delay is thanks to the “unjustifiably militarised” presence in the area designated for the release. The delay has been roundly condemned in the Colombian media, while the Minister of Defence, read morePeace Community Update
News from Colombia | on: Monday, 6 February 2012
In an update to a recent communiqué, the San Jose Peace Community has reported that on January 31st army troops patrolled the communities of Miramar and La Cristalina in the company of 4 hooded men (paramilitaries) and one former guerrilla. The men threatened local peasants and told them to displace read more 
Peace Community Reports Killing and Abuses
News from Colombia | on: Thursday, 2 February 2012
The San Jose Peace Community in northern Colombia has reported the killing of another peasant. Gustavo Guzman Urrego was killed on January 11th at quarter to six, 5 minutes outside the town of San Jose de Apartado. The shots were heard in the settlement of San Josesito, where the Peace read moreCPDH Reports Man Breaking into Bogota Offices
News from Colombia | on: Wednesday, 1 February 2012
The Permanent Committee for Human Rights (CPDH) has reported that on January 26th 2012, a man arrived at their offices in Central Bogota. Initially the man tried to talk his way into the offices, but when this failed he forced his way past administrative staff and entered the meeting room. read more
