http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/ Justice for Colombia: news feed en-gb Copyright Justice for Colombia Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:23:38 GMT Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:23:38 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/ http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//images/rss_image.gif 60 100 info@justiceforcolombia.org (Liam Craig-Best) info@justiceforcolombia.org (Liam Craig-Best) http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1194/Santos---Not-President-of-the-Peasants The Colombian government has called its efforts to return lands to victims \'revolutionary\', but the figures show that the government has been engaged in an immense PR exercise glossing over the shortcomings of the Land and Victims\' Law, claims opposition Congressman Jorge Robledo. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:23:38 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1194/Santos---Not-President-of-the-Peasants http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1193/Trade-Unionist-Killed-in-Cali SINTRAMASIVO, the Cali transport workers' union has reported the killing on February 15th, of one of its founding members, Efrain Amezqueta. Mr Amezqueta was a member of the SINTRAMASIVO leadership and had been active in denouncing labour violations in the Cali transport system, as well as defending the right to organise of union members. Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:41:52 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1193/Trade-Unionist-Killed-in-Cali http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1192/FENSUAGRO-Thanks-JFC-Members FENSUAGRO, the Colombian agricultural workers' union and sister union of Unite and USW, has written to Justice for Colombia to thank our members for their work in highlighting the human rights abuses in Colombia, and for the work JFC carries out in favour of their affiliates. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:55:45 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1192/FENSUAGRO-Thanks-JFC-Members http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1191/Peasants-Report-Shellings-and-Possible-Displacement The Ascamcat peasant trade union of Catatumbo has reported army units shelling the village of Santa Fe near the town of El Tarra on several occasions. The villagers report bombs landing 200 metres from people\'s homes. The most recent case of shelling occurred on the evening of February 12^th. The association reports that the shellings have struck fear into the community, and that it may yet be forced to displace. The communiqu...eacute; notes that under Colombian law civilians cannot be the object of reprisals. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:41:56 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1191/Peasants-Report-Shellings-and-Possible-Displacement http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1190/Colombian-Town-Prepares-Peace-Anniversary The town of San Vicente del Caguan in Southern Colombia is preparing to mark the 10^th anniversary of the end of the 1998-2002 peace negotiations between the FARC and the government of President Andres Pastrana. San Vicente was the capital of the \'demilitarised zone\' which was granted by the government to the guerrillas during the negotiation period. On the 21^st of February, the town will hold an event to commemorate the anniversary and to call for the "construction of peace". The move has provoked ire in some circles, with pro-government figures accusing the Mayor, Domingo Perez Cuellar, of being linked to the FARC. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:29:52 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1190/Colombian-Town-Prepares-Peace-Anniversary http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1189/Welsh-Assembly-tables-Statement-of-Opinion-calling-for-a-peace-process-in-Colombia On 1^st February 2012, Justice for Colombia Wales tabled Statement of Opinion OPIN-2012-0057 - Peace and Justice for Colombia, calling on the Welsh and UK governments to support a negotiated end to the armed conflict in Colombia. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:33:21 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1189/Welsh-Assembly-tables-Statement-of-Opinion-calling-for-a-peace-process-in-Colombia http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1188/Civilian-Killed-by-Police-During-Fighting-in-Cauca. Human Rights organisations have reported fighting in the departments of Cauca and Narino, with civilian casualties and damage to civilian homes. On 7^th February fighting took place in Las Guaces, in the municipality of Corinto in Cauca department. During the fighting between the army\'s 8^th counterinsurgency battalion and the FARC\'s VI Front civilians were forced to shelter in their homes, and in one case, bullets narrowly missed David Calambes Guegia, an 18 month-old baby, who was rescued by his father. Army troops occupied some civilian homes during the fighting and several houses were damaged by bullets. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:28:18 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1188/Civilian-Killed-by-Police-During-Fighting-in-Cauca. http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1185/Rights-NGO-Reports-Civilians-Hurt-in-Heavy-Fighting The Francisco Cifuentes human rights organisation in Southern Colombia has reported a series of battles in the region in which troops have injured civilians. They accuse the armed forces of fighting in populated areas, of causing damage to civilian homes and to religious and cultural centres, as well as wounding villagers. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:38:31 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1185/Rights-NGO-Reports-Civilians-Hurt-in-Heavy-Fighting http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1184/Colombia's-Prisons---Bastions-of-Inequality-and-Injustice This is a translation of an article by former political prisoner Dr Miguel Angel Beltran. He was released from prison in June 2011 after being held for more than two years before being absolved of the charges against him. Justice for Colombia and UCU led an international campaign for his release. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:28:15 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1184/Colombia's-Prisons---Bastions-of-Inequality-and-Injustice http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1186/Forced-Recruitment-of-Civilians-Continues From Voz: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:18:04 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1186/Forced-Recruitment-of-Civilians-Continues http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1183/Prisoner-Release-Delayed The unilateral liberation of 6 prisoners being held by FARC guerrillas has been delayed. According to a guerrilla communiqu...eacute;, the delay is thanks to the "unjustifiably militarised" presence in the area designated for the release. The delay has been roundly condemned in the Colombian media, while the Minister of Defence, Juan Carlos Pinzon has stated that there is "no justification whatsoever" for the delay. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:23:52 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1183/Prisoner-Release-Delayed http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1182/Peace-Community-Update In an update to a recent communiqu...eacute;, the San Jose Peace Community has reported that on January 31^st army troops patrolled the communities of Miramar and La Cristalina in the company of 4 hooded men (paramilitaries) and one former guerrilla. The men threatened local peasants and told them to displace since the land was needed for coalmining. Troops also destroyed a large field of maize. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:36:37 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1182/Peace-Community-Update http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1181/Peace-Community-Reports-Killing-and-Abuses The San Jose Peace Community in northern Colombia has reported the killing of another peasant. Gustavo Guzman Urrego was killed on January 11^th at quarter to six, 5 minutes outside the town of San Jose de Apartado. The shots were heard in the settlement of San Josesito, where the Peace Community has its main offices. The Peace Community reported the shots to the Peoples\' Ombudsman, who said that the armed forces had no knowledge of the killing, despite the heavy police and army presence in the area. The man\'s body lay unattended for 20 hours while the security forces claimed not to be able to find it. Meanwhile, the Peace Community reports that the body lay in plain view. On the 17^th the army arbitrarily arrested 4 people and accused them of having carried out the murder, the Peace Community called on the Peoples\' Ombudsman to verify the accusation, but it took no action. Several hours afterwards the army released the arrested men without any explanation. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:18:26 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1181/Peace-Community-Reports-Killing-and-Abuses http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1180/CPDH-Reports-Man-Breaking-into-Bogota-Offices The Permanent Committee for Human Rights (CPDH) has reported that on January 26^th 2012, a man arrived at their offices in Central Bogota. Initially the man tried to talk his way into the offices, but when this failed he forced his way past administrative staff and entered the meeting room. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:19:25 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1180/CPDH-Reports-Man-Breaking-into-Bogota-Offices http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1179/Miners'-Strike-Violently-Repressed Miners at the Caypa coalmine in La Guajira, northern Colombia have been on strike since January 27^th in protest at poor pay and conditions. The strike exemplifies how complex labour relations have become in Colombia, and how the government does not act to mediate, but rather takes the employers side in most disputes. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:53:45 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1179/Miners'-Strike-Violently-Repressed http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1178/FARC-Name-Captives-to-be-Released The FARC guerrillas, in response to the recent letter from Colombians for Peace, have released the names of 6 prisoners that they will release. The six, Jorge Trujillo Solarte, Jorge Romero, Jose Librado Forero, Luis Beltran, Cesar Lasso and Carlos Duarte will be released unilaterally once security protocols have been confirmed. According to FARC secretariat member Ivan Marquez, they are also waiting for an international commission to be established which will look into the conditions of Colombian political prisoners and guerrilla prisoners being held in Colombian government jails. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:40:07 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1178/FARC-Name-Captives-to-be-Released http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1177/Workers-Uniting-Protests-at-Recent-Killings On January 24^th Unite the Union and the USW wrote to President Santos regarding the two recent killings of trade unionists in Colombia. They wrote as leaders of Workers Uniting, the global union, which has a partnership agreement with FENSUAGRO, the Colombian agricultural workers\' union, one of whose members was tortured and killed by Colombian army troops on January 9^th. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:32:49 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1177/Workers-Uniting-Protests-at-Recent-Killings http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1176/Colombians-for-Peace-Call-for-Ceasefire High profile civil society group \'Colombians for Peace\' has written to the three main parties to the Colombian conflict to request that they all agree to a 90-day ceasefire in the near future. The letters, addressed to the Commanders of the FARC and of the ELN, as well as to President Santos, underline the damage being done to Colombian society by the ongoing conflict and call on them to ensure that the forces under their command abide by international humanitarian law. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:15:26 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1176/Colombians-for-Peace-Call-for-Ceasefire http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1173/Government-Aircraft-Bombing-and-Machine-gunning-Rural-Homes-in-Meta The SINTRAGRIM Meta department agricultural workers\' union has reported indiscriminate bombardments and machine gunnings by aircraft during operations by the army\'s 7^th Brigade along with the 21^st Vargas battalion. The attacks have damaged peasant homes and have spread fear among the local population. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:03:50 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1173/Government-Aircraft-Bombing-and-Machine-gunning-Rural-Homes-in-Meta http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1172/Two-Indigenous-Men-Killed-in-Caldas ONIC, the national indigenous council of Colombia has reported that two Embera indigenous men have been executed in the region of Caldas. Herminson and Alexander de Jesus Morales Zamora, 29 and 24 years old respectively, were disappeared on January 15^th by unidentified armed men. The following day relatives received a note identifying where they could be found. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:00:36 GMT http://www.justiceforcolombia.org//news/article/1172/Two-Indigenous-Men-Killed-in-Caldas