October 18, 2004

InfoBrief is a weekly news summary of events in the U.S. and Colombia produced and distributed by the U.S. Office on Colombia. Colombia This Week is reproduced with the kind permission of the ABColombia Group in London. Other sources include U.S. and Latin American newspapers, and reports from non-profit and grassroots groups. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Office on Colombia. If you would like to receive InfoBrief please contact jess_hunter@usofficeoncolombia.org indicating why you would be interested in this weekly news service. Previous editions of the InfoBrief can be found at www.usofficeoncolombia.org

Amnesty International Releases Report on Violence Against Women in Colombia A recent report by Amnesty International outlines the systematic sexual violence perpetrated against women in Colombia by warring parties over the last 40 years. According to the report, entitled Scarred Bodies, Hidden Crimes: Sexual Violence Against Women in the Armed Conflict, “sexual abuse and exploitation of women and girls have long been ignored, not only because violence against them has been perceived as belonging to the private sphere, but because fear and shame about sexual abuse have prevented many women from speaking out…the conflict exacerbates these forms of violence and the gender stereotyping which underpins them.” The report states that because women’s bodies have been turned into battlegrounds, women are the intended targets of sexual violence in order to utilize fear as a means to control communities, frighten communities off of their land in order to acquire territory, to strike close to the hearts of their adversaries, and also to exploit women as sexual slaves. Susan Lee, the director of Amnesty’s Americas Program pointed to the responsibility of the Colombian government in the situation, stating that, "impunity is the cornerstone of the ongoing human rights crisis in Colombia . The Colombian state is failing in its duty to exercise due diligence to prevent, punish and eradicate sexual and gender violence and is sending out a message that such behaviour is tolerated or even condoned." To read the report in its entirety go to:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR230402004
U.S. Faith Leaders Call for New Colombia Policy Faith leaders from across the United States urged presidential candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry to reassess U.S.-Colombia policy in a letter sent to both candidates on Thursday. The letter, signed by a number of prominent national faith figures including the Presiding Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church, U.S.A.; the Presidents of Catholic Relief Services; Lutheran World Relief; the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the national Jesuit Conference, Church World Services, and hundreds of others, calls for a “new strategy” for Colombia. The letter goes on to suggest that now is the time for “a greater commitment to a negotiated, political path toward peace” in Colombia pointing out that “strategies that rely primarily on military aid or fumigation, and provide only limited social investment in local communities, will not create lasting change.” The full text of the letter can be viewed at: http://www.ciponline.org/colombia/041014chur.htm
Kerry Issues Statement on U.S.-Colombia Relations Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry issued a statement on Friday reiterating his support for Plan Colombia , the $3.3 billion U.S. aid package for Colombia that began in 2000. ''As a senator I have consistently supported Plan Colombia and, as president,'' Kerry said, “I will work with President Uribe to keep the bipartisan spirit in Washington alive in support of Plan Colombia, while insisting on progress on ending the violence against civilians.'' Kerry also insisted that establishing rule of law in Colombia—a stated U.S. policy goal—necessitates “severing all links between the security forces and the paramilitaries; punishing those in uniform who have perpetrated these links and engage in extrajudicial killings and abuses; and better protecting judges, prosecutors, journalists, human rights activists and unionists from intimidation, violence and murder.”
Caritas Internationalis Announces 4-year Campaign For Peace in Colombia Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 162 Catholic organizations spanning the globe, has initiated a movement to bring peace to Colombia, home of the western hemisphere’s longest running armed conflict. The initiative, entitled “Peace is Possible,” focuses on two steps necessary for the reconciliation of armed parties in Colombia. The campaign aims to raise awareness among the international community about the violence that plagues Colombia and to provide informed proposals concerning a methodology to attain sustainable peace. Caritas Internationalis shares the philosophy expressed by the Colombian Bishop’s Conference that “peace is achieved through dialogue and peaceful solution of conflicts…[and] will only be sustained through social justice.” Documents regarding the initiative can be found at:
http://www.caritas.org/jumpNews.asp?idLang=ENG&idChannel=3&idUser=0&idNews=2347
Wife Of AUC Founder Granted Asylum in United States The wife of Carlos Castaño, a founder of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) and suspected drug-trafficker, was granted asylum in the United States for “humanitarian reasons” after the disappearance of her husband during a gun battle in April of this year. In a surprising move, the United States accepted Kenia Gomez’s application for asylum and is housing her and her young daughter in an undisclosed location. U.S. Ambassador to Colombia William Wood explained the move, saying, “a few months ago, the wife of Castaño asked for refuge in the United States, terrified by the disappearance of her husband, and we - previously having consulted with the Colombian government - conceded it for humanitarian reasons.” Unofficial reports suggest that Castaño was executed by fellow AUC members as part of an internal power struggle within the armed group. The U.S. has an outstanding extradition order for Castaño to face drug-trafficking charges in the United States.

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Colombia This Week

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