COLOMBIAN NATIONAL ARMY ROBS ITEMS FROM THE RURAL SCHOOL OF DOS QUEBRADAS, MUNICIPALITY OF REMEDIOS, DEPARTMENT OF ANTIOQUIA

14.02.06

The Corporation Humanitarian Action for Peace and Coexistence in North-eastern Antioquia, CAHUCOPANA, non- governmental human rights organization, calls upon the national and international community to recognize the following denouncement of the robbery of items from the rural school of the village of Dos Quebradas, in the municipality of Remedios, department of Antioquia according to the following facts:

1.From November 7th until the 27th, 2005, members of the Calibio Battalion of the XIV Brigade of the National Army staged presence in the village of Dos Quebradas.
2.On the 18th of September, 2005, the teacher Nubia Ámparo Miranda left the region due to a snake bite and the school was closed. The door was locked with a key.
3.The teacher’s husband found the school with lock broken. At that time, he verified that the school was missing a Sankey brand compact disc player, two mathematics videos, the first aid manual, three pans, and two knives belonging to the school. Additionally, a Sony brand radio and seven compact discs belonging to the teacher had been taken.
4.A neighbor accused a member of the army of having taken the items; facts which he denied. Later, on November 12th, 2005, Corporal Huertas turned in the Sankey brand compact disc player in bad condition and the radio to the President of the Communal Action Junta (village council) of the village. The radio had been marked with the name “Montoya”, which corresponds to the name of one of the soldiers.

The presence of the public forces is prohibited by international human rights. This act has contributed to the increase in distrust of the community of Dos Quebradas towards the Colombian National Army and in particular, towards the soldiers of Calibio Battalion of the XIV Brigade, which remains in the zone. This act occurs within the context of harassment, assassinations, and consequent displacement in the community of Northeastern Antioquia, provoked by the presence and aggressive behavior of the troops of the National Army which have been in the region since April of 2005.

Confronted with the threat of more acts of violence against the civil population and for the respect of the inalienable right to education, we demand an investigation on behalf of the appropriate authorities into these acts and the sanction of those responsible. We demand the protection of basic rights violated by the public forces.

February 12th, 2006.
Corporation Humanitarian Action for Peace and Coexistence in Northeastern Antioquia – CAHUCOPANA

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