Welcome to LAWG’s Colombia News Brief, a compilation of top articles and reports on issues of peace, justice, human rights, and more in Colombia.
SPOTLIGHT
La Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos condena a Colombia por el exterminio de la Unión Patriótica
Catalina Oquendo, El País, 30 de enero de 2023
“Más de 30 años de litigio, de espera, culminaron este lunes. La Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos condenó al Estado colombiano por el exterminio de más de 6.000 integrantes y militantes de la Unión Patriótica, un partido político de izquierda que surgió de unas negociaciones de paz entre el Gobierno y la ya desaparecida guerrilla de las FARC, y que fue eliminado a punta de violencia en los años 80 y 90 del siglo XX”.
US-COLOMBIA RELATIONS
What Colombia’s First Black VP Really Wants from the United States
Jesús A. Rodriguez, Politico, January 20, 2023
“After a career as a social activist for Afro-Colombians and climate justice, Francia Márquez Mina decided to run for the vice presidency — and won. Her next goal: getting global superpowers to pay reparations.”
U.S. to launch talks on partnership with 11 Western Hemisphere nations
David J. Lynch and Karen DeYoung, The Washington Post, January 27, 2023
The Biden administration said Friday that it would begin negotiations with 11 mostly Latin American nations on an agreement designed to promote regional economic cooperation without offering greater access to the U.S. market for their goods.
PEACE PROCESS
Colombia: Gobierno no negociará paz con narcos, según fiscal
DW, 31 de enero de 2023
“El fiscal general de Colombia, Francisco Barbosa, manifestó este lunes (30.01.2023) que el presidente Gustavo Petro le confirmó que el Gobierno no hará una negociación política de un acuerdo de paz con narcotraficantes”.
Paz total: Fiscal dice que apoya zonas de concentración de grupos armados
El Tiempo, 31 de enero de 2023
“Luego de la reunión que sostuvieron el lunes el fiscal general, Francisco Barbosa, y el presidente Gustavo Petro, se conoció que el jefe del ente acusador apoyaría una eventual concentración de grupos armados en unas zonas determinadas, en medio de un proceso de paz. Así lo explicó en entrevista con Blu Radio, en la que dijo que con el presidente Petro hablaron de varias de las dudas de la Fiscalía frente a la paz total, los diálogos con grupos armados ilegales, y la ley de sometimiento para bandas criminales”.
Colombia reconoce como víctimas menores reclutados por FARC
Associated Press, 30 de enero de 2023
“El gobierno colombiano reconoció el lunes públicamente la calidad de víctimas de los menores de 18 años que fueron reclutados por la extinta guerrilla de las FARC en cumplimiento de una orden del Tribunal de Paz, como una forma de reparar lo expresado por un exministro de Defensa del anterior gobierno que los denominó ‘máquinas de guerra’”.
Colombia, ELN rebels to resume peace talks in Mexico in February
Mayela Armas and Luis Jaime Acosta, Reuters, January 21, 2023
“Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group said on Saturday they will resume peace talks in Mexico next month, overcoming a recent impasse after the government recently declared and then called off a bilateral ceasefire.”
Colombia: Quarterly Meeting and Vote on Resolution Expanding the Verification Mission’s Mandate
Security Council Report, January 11, 2023
“On 11 January, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2673, expanding the mandate of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to monitor the implementation of the chapter on comprehensive rural reform and the ethnic chapter of the 2016 Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace between the government of Colombia and the former rebel group Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP).”
Colombia: UN mission to verify rural reform and indigenous representation in peace process
United Nations, January 11, 2023
“Carlos Ruiz Massieu welcomed recent Government actions on rural reform and greater equality, in line with the 2016 Peace Agreement between the Government and the FARC EP militia group that ended five decades of civil war. ‘The Council’s decision today to authorize the expansion of the Mission’s mandate to include the Agreement’s comprehensive rural reform and the ethnic chapter in its verification tasks will enable the Mission to increase its contribution to peace in Colombia,’ said Mr. Massieu, speaking after its unanimous adoption of a Resolution 2673. The Ethnic Chapter is designed to ensure representation and oversight for indigenous and marginalized groups in forging peace.”
CONTINUED ARMED CONFLICT
Violence in Colombia falls in first month of ceasefire
Julia Symmes Cobb and Oliver Griffin, Reuters, January 30, 2023
“Colombia’s ceasefire with four armed groups has led to significant reductions in violence during its first month, Interior Minister Alfonso Prada said on Monday, with fewer murders and attacks on armed forces.”
Colombian police seize weapons in ‘important blow’ to armed group
Al Jazeera, January 16, 2023
“Colombia’s national police force has said it confiscated an arsenal of weapons, including grenades and a machine gun, belonging to dissidents from the now-disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group.”
At least 11 die in Colombia as ELN rebels clash with dissident ex-FARC fighters
Reuters, January 12, 2023
“At least 11 fighters have been killed during clashes in northeast Colombia between dissident former members of the now-demobilized FARC guerrilla movement and National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels, the army said on Thursday.”
HUMAN RIGHTS
Ante insistencia de campesinas y campesinos del Guaviare, Corte Constitucional estudiará tutela por incumplimiento del Programa de Sustitución
Colectivo de Abogados, 31 de enero de 2023
“Después de insistir ante los magistrados de la Corte Constitucional, la Sala de Selección en su sesión 01 de este 30 de enero de 2023 seleccionó la tutela T-9.055.571 presentada por 930 familias de 34 veredas del municipio de Miraflores, departamento del Guaviare, acompañadas por el Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear Restrepo –Cajar-, para buscar el amparo constitucional ante la vulneración de sus derechos fundamentales por el incumplimiento del Programa Nacional de Sustitución de Cultivos Ilícitos –PNIS- pactado en el Acuerdo Final de Paz. Esta selección que la Corte había descartado en un primer momento, obedeció a la insistencia de las comunidades que fue recogida por los magistrados Cristina Pardo y Jorge Enrique Ibañez”.
El confeso autor de falsos positivos que ahora es consultor secreto de militares
Felipe Morales Sierra, El Espectador, 30 de enero de 2023
“La filtración de más de 255.000 correos de las Fuerzas Militares deja al descubierto que el Comando General contrató, en secreto, al coronel (r) Santiago Herrera Fajardo, que ha reconocido su responsabilidad por crímenes de guerra, para una consultoría en doctrina militar y derechos humanos”.
Colombia makes scant progress on protecting right to protest, report says
Reuters, January 27, 2023
“Colombia has made substantial progress on only three of 28 actions recommended by a regional human rights body to protect the right to protest after deaths during demonstrations in 2020 and 2021, the organization said on Friday.”
IACHR Presents Follow-Up Report Concerning Recommendations made to Colombia
Organization of American States, January 27, 2023
“The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is presenting its first follow-up report concerning recommendations made in the wake of the Commission’s working visit to Colombia in June 2021, to observe the situation of human rights in the context of social protests during a general strike.”
Women searching for victims of enforced disappearances await dignity
PBI Colombia, January 26, 2023
“The time has come for Colombia to support the efforts of women and others searching for victims of enforced disappearance. Women suffer very serious human rights violations while, individually or collectively, searching for loved ones, including sexual violence, kidnapping, privation of liberty, extortion, threats, and reprisals.”
Colombian activist killings hit record high in 2022: Ombudsman
Al Jazeera, January 23, 2023
More than 200 social leaders and human rights activists were killed in Colombia last year, the country’s human rights ombudsman has announced, as armed groups vying for control of drug trafficking routes increased their attacks.
Water conflicts caused by the industry of ultra-processed beverages and food
Colectivo de Abogados, January 16, 2023
“This document responds to the need to talk about issues of general interest, which is usually uncomfortable for the large industries of sweetened beverages and ultra-processed food. If we want to reduce the discomfort so we can build an informed and respectful dialogue, it is necessary to generate knowledge and put the topic at the center of the public agenda; it should be a dialogue where industries speak from their interests and we, society in general, from a comprehensive perspective of our rights and the public interest. This is a step in that direction.”
THE ENVIRONMENT
Ecuador, Colombia discuss cooperation in environment, security
La Prensa Latina, January 31, 2023
“The presidents of Ecuador and Colombia discussed joint cooperation and work on environment, security, trade and regional integration, among others, at the XI Binational Cabinet meeting in the Ecuadorian border city of Tulcan on Tuesday.”
Colombia’s Oil Industry Is An Environmental Disaster
Matthew Smith, Oil Price, January 5, 2023
“Oil spills, flaring, and other environmentally damaging incidents are commonplace and have been so for years in much of South America’s oil patch. The demise of Venezuela’s oil industry has led to an increase in accidents that have harmed the environment. Between 2015 and 2022, there have been more than 2,133 environmentally damaging incidents involving Colombia’s oil industry.”
DRUG POLICY
Colombia cocaine seizures break record in 2022
Reuters, January 28, 2023
“Colombia seized more cocaine in 2022 than any other year on record, the South American country’s defense ministry reported Saturday. Security forces seized 671 tonnes of the drug last year, surpassing the 2021 total by about 1.7 tonnes.”
Readout of U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr.’s Meeting with Colombian Attorney General Francisco Barbosa Delgado
U.S. Department of Justice, January 28, 2023
“On Jan. 25, Criminal Division Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. met in Washington, D.C. with Colombian Attorney General Francisco Barbosa Delgado.
In the meeting, Assistant Attorney General Polite expressed his deep appreciation for the extraordinary law enforcement partnership between the United States and Colombia and thanked Attorney General Barbosa for his leadership in combating transnational organized crime.”
Otoniel Pleads Guilty: Farewell to Colombia’s Last Kingpin
Juan Diego Posada, InSight Crime, January 26, 2023
“Otoniel, the fallen head of the Urabeños crime syndicate, has pleaded guilty to a raft of crimes in New York. His trial marks the end of an era in Colombia’s drug trafficking world.”
VENEZUELAN CRISIS
Venezuela and Colombia fully reopen shared border
Reuters, January 1, 2023
“Venezuela and Colombia will fully reopen their shared border on January 1 to allow passage of cargo and passenger transport via the cross-border Tienditas bridge, Colombia Migration said in a statement on Saturday. The South American countries already reopened in September their border crossing in the Tachira state, in western Venezuela, after political ties strengthened under Colombia’s new president, Gustavo Petro.”
*The Colombia News Brief is a selection of relevant news articles, all of which do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the Latin America Working Group.
P.S. Do you know of someone who might be interested in receiving the Colombia News Brief? Tell them to email apereyrabaron@lawg.org.
