Battalion Calibio Overruns the Northeast Antioquia

2.11.05

The Lawyers Guild Yira Castro calls upon national and international community to recognize the following denouncement presented by CAHUCOPANA (Humanitarian Action for Interdependence and Peace of Northeast Antioquia Corporation), a campesina organization which represents the over 2,500 farm workers that inhabit the rural zones of the municipalities of Remedios and Segovia, in the Department of Antioquia.

PUBLIC DENOUNCEMENT

The Corporation Humanitarian Action for the Interdependence and Peace of Northeast Antioquia (CAHUCOPANA) denounces the violations and harassment that the Northeast Antioquia has suffered on behalf of members of the national army belonging to the XIV Brigade, based in Puerto Berrio, in complicity with members of paramilitary groups.

On the afternoon of October 13th, around 30 soldiers of the Demolishing Platoon No. 1, Battalion Calibio of the XIV Brigade, under the command of Sergeants Setina and Blanquiceth, entered the settlement of Dos Quebradas of the municipality of Remedios. Recognized paramilitaries in the region, including alias EL RONCO, BOMBILLO, LINTERNA, AND RAÙL PALACIO, work with this military command and and are used to point out campesinos and leaders as insurgent collaborators.

Since its beginning, the para- military group, under the command of Blanquiceth, has detained and threatened farm workers, and stolen their animals. They have used farms and schools as housing, and children and the civil population in general as human shields, in the face of an eventual guerrilla attack.

The soldiers, alongside paramilitaries, have interrogated campesinos of the area for being recognized as leaders. We fear for the lives and integrity of these campesinos, among whom are the presidents of the Communal Action Meetings from the settlements.

We demand the immediate withdrawal of the Colombian armed forces from Dos Quebradas, as well as the cessation of harassment of campesinos of the region.

We also solicit authorities including the Attorney General to commence investigation which will recognize the links between members of the public armed forces and paramilitary groups, and to set an effective precedent against these perpetrators.

CONTEXT

The community of Northeast Antioquia has been subject to an economic blockade, preventing arrival of provisions, including foodstuffs and sanitary needs, on behalf of the national army and the paramilitary groups for five years. Due to this tragedy, CAHUCOPANA has invited all social and human rights organizations in the country to participate in the two Humanitarian Actions they have carried out for the purpose of denouncing the humanitarian crisis and violation of human rights experienced by the region, make visible the violent acts they suffer, and call for accompaniment and solidarity.

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