Colombia

A/HRC/10/82/Add.1

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Views on conclusions and/or recommendations, voluntary commitments and replies presented by the State under review

The numbers with letters refer to recommendations stated in the section I of the Working Group report, entitled “Summary of the proceedings of the review process”.

A/HRC/10/82

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WRI's Colombian affiliate Red Juvenil reported a new round of
arbitrary recruitment in Medellin in October and November 2008.
'Batidas', the recruiting of youth on the street or public places if
they cannot show the right military papers, have been observed in
various places of Medellin, among others the main transport terminal in
the north of Medellin, several metro stations, the football stadium of
Medellin, and in several poorer neighbourhoods of the city (Comunas 2,
5, 6, 13).

“In September 2001, when I demanded that the Serbian authorities recognise my right to CO there were 12 religious COs imprisoned in Serbia. Thanks to the campaign organised by the WRI and other peace groups, not only was I not jailed, but also these 12 imprisoned objectors were released in following months.”

Igor Seke, conscientious objector from Serbia

We ask you to support our efforts to support conscientious objectors and Prisoners for Peace. Take some time on 1 December – Prisoners for Peace Day – to write letters to prisoners (see the included list). And – for us to be able to continue our work – give generously to support WRI's work in support of Prisoners for Peace.

An important legal victory for conscientious objectors in Colombia

The Working
Group on Arbitrary Detention declared in its Opinion No 8/2008 (Colombia) the practice of recruitment in the form of raids
(batidas), and the recruitment of conscientious objectors a form of "arbitrary detention". This is an important legal victory for conscientious objectors in Colombia, although the opinions of the Working Group are legally non-binding.

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention [1] declared in its Opinion No 8/2008 (Colombia) the practice of recruitment in the form of raids (batidas), and the recruitment of conscientious objectors a form of “arbitrary detention”.

Barrancabermeja is a geostrategically important city, the capital of Magdalena Medio, a region with immense natural resources, petrol, mines and the river Magdalena. Along with macroprojects such as African palm, rubber and cocoa, great tracts of lands are used for illegal cultivation making this a territory disputed by narcotraffic mafias, landowners, and national and multinational big business. For years, they have been trying to gain possession of the land, sowing terror and death through the action of paramilitary groups.

Colombian conscientious objector and activist, Julian Ovalle will talk about the political situation, the recruitment practice of the different armed groups, and the work of the movement for conscientious objection in Colombia.

In Colombia we do not know exactly the payment of which tax directly contributes to the war. All national taxes come together in a common fund and then the government redistributes it, sending more than 50% of the national budget to debt issues: Internal and external and militarisation.

Statement of the War Resisters' International Executive Committee

War Resisters' International is very concerned about the death threats received by its Colombian affiliate Red Juvenil de Medellin. Last week, Red Juvenil received death threats in the name of "Aguilas Negras" (Black Eagles) [1], a name widely used by groups of supposedly demobilised paramilitaries.

Statement by Red Juvenil Medellín

We want to inform human rights organizations and government agencies of the threat made against our organization by paramilitaries calling themselves Las Aguilas Negras (Black Eagles).

Death threats against WRI affiliate Red Juvenil after successful 'Antimili Sonoro XIV'

It does not happen often that we have good news to report from Colombia, but this month we do (among quite a bit of bad news - but the good news first). Two months ago, two Colombian conscientious objectors who had been illegally recruited in January and February have been released from the military, albeit without any acknowledgement of the right to conscientious objection.

Diego Alexander Pulgarin was recruited on 5 January in the northern bus terminal of Medellin.