September 9, 2003

This press release was drafted by the LAWG and sent out on September 9, 2003, following statements by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in front of a national audience and high-level military personnel that equated the work of human rights and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Colombia with terrorism.  The format of our press releases utilizes the expertise of a number of participating organizations in the LAWG coalition.  To sign up to receive our press releases, please e-mail estarmer@lawg.org. 

For Immediate Release—September 9, 2003
Contact Information Below

US Groups Respond to Colombian President’s Statements on Human Rights Defenders
Vague Accusations Put Legitimate Civic Groups At Risk, Undercut Democratic Rhetoric

Washington, September 9—Human rights and policy organizations responded today to what they called “inflammatory and dangerous” statements by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in a speech to Colombian military personnel on Monday. President Uribe derided unnamed human rights groups in Colombia as “terrorist” agents and cowards who “[hid] their political ideas behind human rights.”

The speech took place as eighty Colombian organizations, many of them well-respected by the international community, issued a report criticizing some elements of President Uribe’s national security strategy. Uribe, who assumed the presidency in August of 2002, has implemented a number of controversial security initiatives during his first year in office that prompted concerns on the part of the United Nations and some members of the US Congress.

Among the most controversial of the programs are a civilian network of informants who supply intelligence on suspected guerillas to the Colombian armed forces, and a peasant soldier program that trains rural residents to serve as part-time soldiers. Critics worry that civilian participants will become military targets, drawing non-combatants further into a conflict that costs hundreds of lives each year. A number of Uribe’s other initiatives—including the granting of extraordinary judicial powers to the military, and the suspension of civil rights and liberties in special zones of conflict—have been declared unconstitutional by Colombia’s constitutional court. The government continues to seek these powers through legislative means.

President Uribe declined to name specific groups in the statement, instead referring vaguely to “human rights politickers” who criticized his policies and who he said represented terrorist interests. Many legitimate civic and human rights groups in Colombia become military targets of armed actors on the left or right if they are perceived as siding with one armed group. Organizations around the world today expressed concern that Uribe’s statements would increase the chances that legitimate groups, particularly those involved in issuing the report, would be targeted.

The following analysts are available for interviews on this topic:

Adam Isacson, Senior Associate, Center for International Policy (202-232-3317 or isacson@ciponline.org): “Of course the president is free to disagree with the human rights community’s criticisms of his policies. It is even legitimate for him to call them names like ‘prophets of disaster’ or ‘human rights politickers.’ But calling them ‘terrorist spokespeople’ is something else entirely.

“This is not a question of political correctness. It’s a question of political space. In Colombia today, to be accused by someone in power of being a guerrilla fellow-traveler is tantamount to receiving a death sentence. Uribe applied his remarks to an entire sector of non-violent activists, scholars, opposition politicians and dissidents. He spoke of groups he sees as legitimate and those he sees as ‘defenders of terrorism,’ but failed to distinguish them clearly.

“For a country’s president to make such a serious accusation – without presenting a shred of evidence or naming a single person or group under suspicion – is an act of pure cowardice. It makes the job of defending human rights in Colombia many times more difficult. Comments like these must stop now, and an apology is in order.”

Neil Jeffery, Executive Director, US Office on Colombia (cell 202-276-0988 or neil_jeffery@usofficeoncolombia.org): “Democratic governments around the world recognize that a strong and independent civil society is fundamental for the protection of democracy, justice and the rule of law. President Uribe has shown today that he does not. Members of Congress will certainly take his comments into account the next time they consider providing Colombia with more military aid.”

Lisa Haugaard, Executive Director, Latin America Working Group (202-546-7010 or lisah@lawg.org): “Mr. Uribe's diatribe against human rights groups in front of a military audience marks a dangerous turn of events. These vague accusations could give a green light to those who would attack legitimate opposition politicians, union activists, human rights defenders and community leaders in the name of fighting insurgency. The context of Mr. Uribe’s comments is particularly disturbing given the documented ties that continue to exist between some sectors of the Colombian armed forces and paramilitary groups, who often target human rights defenders. Human rights defenders are valuable assets in any democracy, and among Colombia's most valuable and endangered resources. Mr. Uribe should work with them—not leave them undefended.”

Kimberly Stanton, Deputy Director, Washington Office on Latin America (202-797-2171, kstanton@wola.org): “Mr. Uribe's strident attack has placed the lives of all Colombian human rights defenders at risk. The Colombian government seems unable to comprehend that dissent is essential to democracy. The president's statements will only deepen international concern about his commitment to human rights. No one should expect Colombian democracy to emerge strengthened from Mr. Uribe's time in office.”

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