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UNCLAS BOGOTA 001053 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KJUS CO
SUBJECT: UNHCHR ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT CITE PROGRESS, 
CONTINUING CHALLENGES 
 
¶1.  Summary:  The United Nations High Commissioner for High 
Rights in Colombia's  (UNHCHR) 2007 report on Colombia,s 
human rights situation cites progress, while recognizing that 
challenges remain.  The report highlights human rights 
violations stemming from Colombia's armed conflict, including 
FARC and ELN abuses and new illegal armed groups' 
narcotrafficking ties.  It commends improved security and 
attention to human rights, but calls for more GOC action on 
impunity and extrajudicial killings.  It supports the Justice 
and Peace Law (JPL), parapolitical investigations, and 
protection programs for trade unionists, human rights 
workers, and at-risk individuals.  End Summary. 
 
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Illegal Armed Groups ) Not Homogenous but Persistent 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶2.  The UNHCHR,s 2007 human rights report highlights human 
rights violations arising from Colombia's armed conflict. 
Civilian suffer from combat among security forces, illegal 
armed groups, the FARC and ELN.  The report says the Casanare 
Rural Self-Defense Group is the only United Self-Defense 
Forces of Colombia (AUC) block which remains active, but 
voices concern about new illegal armed groups in Meta, 
Vichada, Guaviare and Narino.  The report warns against 
generalizing about illegal armed groups, noting they are not 
homogenous in their structure, interests, and operations. 
Extensive use of the names "Aguilas Negras" or "Nueva 
Generacion" does not mean that groups belong to the same 
structure or coordinate their actions. 
 
----------------------- 
FARC and ELN violations 
----------------------- 
 
¶3.  The report recognizes GOC efforts to negotiate a 
humanitarian accord with the FARC, and criticizes the group's 
continued involvement in massacres, murders, kidnapping, 
sexual violence, child recruitment, and other terrorist acts. 
The report cites FARC massacres of ten people in May and 
August 2007, in addition to the murder of 11 Valle de Cauca 
deputies.  Systematic kidnapping and prolonged captivity 
remain grave concerns.  The report notes the ELN also 
murdered an Awa indigenous leader in Narino and continues to 
kidnap civilians.  Southern Cordoba, Uraba-Choco, eastern 
Antioquia, Norte de Santander, Tolima, Narino, Putumayo, 
Guaviare, Vichada, and Arauca all experienced extensive FARC 
and ELN violence. 
 
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Extrajudicial Killings a Serious Concern 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  The UNHCHR praises the "political will" of senior 
civilian and military officials to prevent, investigate and 
punish military personnel responsible for extrajudicial 
killings, but says this remains a serious problem.  UNHCHR 
will monitor MOD directives issued in 2007 to reduce 
extrajudicial killings, including the deployment of 
operational legal advisors in the field, strengthening of 
internal controls, and provision of extensive human rights 
training.  It also recognizes the Prosecutor General's 
creation of a special sub-unit to investigate and prosecute 
alleged extrajudicial killings.  Still, the report highlights 
continued military reporting of civilians as "killed in 
combat" and military tampering with crime scene evidence as 
on-going concerns. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Protecting Unionists and Human Rights Workers 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  UNHCHR supported the work of human rights defenders who 
received threats in 2007.  It noted that the GOC expanded its 
protection program--which protects human rights activists, 
journalists, and unionists--to include the displaced and  JPL 
victims. In 2007, one journalist was murdered, 92 received 
death threats and two were kidnapped.  The Ministry of Social 
Protection reported 26 murders of unionists in 2007 (18 of 
whom were teachers) while the trade union groups cited 34 
(Note: The UNHCHR statistics are not for the full year.)  The 
 
report attributed the murders to the FARC, new illegal armed 
groups or unidentified persons. 
 
------------------------------ 
Judicial Progress(and Problems 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6.  The report outlines structural problems which limit 
access to the legal system including under-reporting of 
crimes, resource constraints, corruption, and inefficiency. 
Still, it notes progress in voluntary confessions made by 
demobilized paramilitary under the JPL, as well as progress 
on high-profile cases such as reopening the investigation of 
the 1985 Palace of Justice attack and the sentencing of 
members of the security forces in cases of extrajudicial 
killings.  Examples include convictions in the killing of 
three unionists in Arauca in August 2004 and a farmer 
murdered in Antioquia in April 2004. The Fiscalia also 
ordered the detention of an army captain for the San Jose de 
Apartado massacre in February 2005.  UNHCHR cites the Supreme 
Court,s investigations of 45 members of congress, four 
governors, and 18 mayors from 16 departments for paramilitary 
ties as a sign of the court,s "strength and independence." 
It expects the transition to an accusatory system will help 
combat impunity. 
 
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Implementing Justice and Peace Law 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  UNHCHR notes that the JPL process continued with 1057 
voluntary confessions and the exhumation of 1196 remains of 
paramilitary victims, but voices concern that no paramilitary 
has been convicted to date.  The report expresses concerns 
that the Prosecutor General lacks the technical skill and 
resources to help the 121,547 registered victims.   It calls 
for renewed focus on victims for truth, justice, reparations 
and guarantee of no repetition as "essential conditions" to 
achieve peace and reconciliation. 
 
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Displaced and Vulnerable Groups 
------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  The report recognizes increased GOC funding to help the 
displaced, but notes continuing shortfalls in assisting 
vulnerable groups such as women, indigenous, and 
Afro-Colombians.  Still, UNHCHR acknowledges the Prosecutor 
General set up a special group in its Human Rights Unit in 
May 2007 to investigate cases against women and children. 
The report calls the GOC,s comprehensive plan to support 
endangered indigenous groups in Cesar, Risaralda, Meta, and 
Guajira, a "positive step which needs to be consolidated." It 
says titling of collective land ownership for Afro-Colombians 
under Law 70 of 1993 should continue in consultation with 
local communities. 
 
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Regional Elections: "Climate of Normality" 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶9.  UNHCHR gives positive marks for the October 28, 2007 
local elections in 32 departments which saw high voter 
turnout due to a "climate of normality" on election day.  It 
notes, however, that 31 candidates candidates were killed, 
and nine were kidnapped*-all by the FARC and illegal armed 
groups.  The report also praises the continuing dialogue 
among the GOC, civil society, and international community as 
reflected in the third meeting in the London-Cartagena 
process in Bogota in November. 
 
------------------- 
Key Recommendations 
------------------- 
 
¶10.  The UNHCHR report calls for the FARC's unconditional 
release of all hostages, and urges the GOC to dismantle all 
forms of illegal armed groups, provide inclusive and 
comprehensive victims' reparations, fight impunity, eliminate 
extrajudicial killings, continue JPL implementation, and 
reduce poverty.  It recognizes the GOC,s Social Protection 
 
Network for Overcoming Extreme Poverty (JUNTOS) extended 
services with a target of helping 1.5 million families, of 
which 300,000 are victims of forced displacement. UNHCHR 
reiterates the need to strengthen the Prosecutor General, 
Inspector General, Human Rights Ombudsman, and the judiciary. 
Brownfield