By International Peace Observatory

International Peace Observatory condemns actions by the Colombian Army’s Thirtieth Brigade on September 7, 2010, in the municipality of El Tarra, Norte de Santander department. During a fact-finding mission to investigate incidents that took place in El Tarra on August 15, members of the Thirtieth Brigade filmed, detained, and made unfounded accusations against IPO volunteers and members of the fact-finding mission. We would like to express our concern over the use of these irregular procedures, particularly the unfounded accusations that were made. In addition to violating Presidential Directive 07 of 1999, these accusations put those Colombian and foreign civilians who were present at risk, by involving them in the conflict.

by International Peace Observatory

International Peace Observatory (IPO) is an organization offering international accompaniment and working to promote the respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in Colombia. IPO would like to denounce that on July 22, the Colombian Army detained two IPO members for an hour and illegally registered their personal information. The Thirtieth Brigade’s “Number 10 Energy and Highway” Battalion detained the two volunteers at the Military Base La Esmeralda, in the Municipality of Convención, located in Norte de Santander.

The two volunteers were in the region accompanying a delegation organized by the Catatumbo Farmers’ Association (ASCAMCAT) to attend the event in Bogotá titled: The Patriotic March for the Second Independence of Colombia.

by International Peace Observatory

International Peace Observatory (IPO), an organization made up of internationals working to defend human rights in Colombia, publicly condemns the military attacks carried out by the Israeli Army during the night of 31 May 2010 in international waters against the the “Freedom Flotilla”. The Freedom Flotilla was a convoy of six solidarity ships sailing in solidarity with Gaza. It was led by the former passenger vessel Mavi Marmara and was carrying almost 800 people of 40 nationalities.

This “Freedom Flotilla” was carrying 10.000 tons of humanitarian aid, including medical and school supplies, building materials, more than five hundred electric wheelchairs, one hundred prefabricated houses for families who lost their homes in the invasion, and food supplies.

According to the available information there have been nine deaths among the activists who were traveling on the ships. However, Palestine solidarity organizations have denounced that the Israeli Army has hindered the release of information about the incident.

Hasan Dodwell and Jaume Fortuño

For President Uribe Velez, human rights defenders are “politically interested individuals who hide themselves behind the banner of human rights and ultimately serve the cause of terrorism.” During his Presidential reign this practice of accusation and criminalisation of all those who criticise the government has been constant. Both national and international organisations that work in the area of human rights have suffered accusations of being “the political arm of the guerilla” and of acting as “spokespersons for terrorism with the aim of discrediting the state.”

By International Peace Observatory

This video about the Humanitarian Refugee Camp in Catatumbo has been made by IPO with the intention of helping ASCAMCAT and the farmers of Catatumbo to communicate this process. But also to show our support and solidarity, and pay tribute to all the people who are making it possible for us to accompany and be a part of the Refugee Camp, the People’s Hearings and MIA, and the farmers’ resistance.
Long live Catatumbo!