Massive Displacement forces the Campesino Population of Cancha de Manila to Establish a Temporary Refuge; Paramilitary Threats in the Nordeste Antioqueño

12.08.06

August 11, 2006

CAHUCOPANA (the Corporation of Humanitarian Action for the Coexistence and
Peace in Nordeste Antioqueño), organization that champions the defense of
human rights in the region, denounces the following actions taken by the
Colombian Army in and around the settlement Cancha de Manila.

During military operations carried out in the Nordeste Antioqueño by
members of the Batallón Plan Especial Energético y Vial No. 8 of the
Brigada XIV of the National Army, commanded by Major GALVIZ and Sargent
LÓPEZ, campesinos from Cancha de Manila were forced to leave their farms
and establish a temporary refuge in the village of the same name, due to
accusations made by the civilian CAMILO TAMARA, who accompanies the army
and alleges that the campesinos are auxiliaries to the guerilla. Mr.
Tamara is a former resident of the Nordeste Antioqueño who claims to have
a list of the names of campesinos who collaborate with the guerilla. It
should be mentioned that the majority of the accused campesinos are part
of the Junta de Acción Comunal (Community Action Committee) and of the
Junta de Acción Humanitaria de CAHUCOPANA (Humanitarian Action Committee
of CAHUCOPANA). As of August 10th, twenty five people have moved to the
refuge, and are accompanied by members of the International Peace
Observatory (IPO).

We are greatly troubled by the threats made by Major GALVIZ and Sargent
LÓPEZ who have said that paramilitaries will be entering Cancha de Manila
and surrounding villages at the beginning of September. In three villages
the army has left allusive signs for the paramilitaries of the Bloque
Central Bolivar (BCB), along with drawings of gravestones.

In light of these events we demand:

– That the Fiscalía and the Procuraduría General de la Nación (Attorney
General) efficiently and immediately investigate the aforementioned
incidents.

– That Dr. SERGIO CARAMAGNA, head of the OAS mission accompanying the
paramilitary peace process, verify the possible existence or survival of
paramilitaries in the Nordeste Antioqueño.

– That the Colombian government take the necessary measures to make the
Batallón Plan Especial Energético y Vial No. 8 abstain from violating the
population’s human rights, and to confront the paramilitary groups that
could take action against the settlement Cancha de Manila.

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