November 1, 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

Concerns Raised Over Colombia’s Detention Policy In a letter addressed to President Alvaro Uribe, 12 organizations including the Washington Office on Latin America, Center for International Policy, U.S. Office on Colombia, and Lutheran World Relief voiced concerns over the relationship between the government’s liberal use of detentions—often despite weak evidence—and the subsequent murder of the falsely accused individuals upon their release. The letter contends that the government’s detention policy “has led to hundreds, if not thousands, of erroneous accusations of membership in or affiliation with armed groups.” The groups point out that while Colombian and international human rights groups have called attention to this issue for some time, it took a series of recent murders, including the assassination of Professor Alfredo Correa de Andreis in Barranquilla—who was detained, accused of being a guerrilla ideologue, subsequently released for a lack of evidence and later murdered—for the general public to grasp the gravity of the situation. The Colombian Ombudsman’s office reported that in the Department of Bolívar alone more than six people have been assassinated after charges or warrants against them were dropped. The letter indicates that human rights groups are particularly concerned for the safety of Mauricio Avilez Alvarez of CEDHERNOS in Barranquilla and his family following his recent release from jail. Mr. Avilez was released after months in jail on charges of rebellion and terrorism based on the testimony of an informant when the warrant for his arrest was overturned. To read the letter in its entirety, go to http://usofficeoncolombia.org/signon/detentions.pdf
U.S.-Trained Militia Leader Killed A former U.S-trained Colombian military officer who went on to become a leader of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), a paramilitary group fighting against the Colombian government, was killed by government forces last week. Major David Hernandez was killed in along with four other AUC members in northern Colombia, near Mamon. Originally arrested in 1989 for the murder of a state government peace envoy while still a part of the Colombian military, Hernandez escaped from prison and joined up with the AUC, eventually taking on a leading role. While in the Colombian army, Hernandez received training from U.S. military personnel at the School of the Americas, located in Fort Benning, Georgia, and, according to Human Rights Watch, is one of seven total graduates from the School of the Americas to since be associated with right-wing paramilitary groups.
U.S. Indicts Seven for Illegal Export of Arms to Colombia A Miami grand jury has indicted seven individuals in relation to a conspiracy to transport arms from the United States to Venezuela and then to Colombia, the U.S. State Department said in a release. The U.S. Department of Justice has indicated that the individuals illegally transported arms purchased in the United States to South America by sea and sold them to buyers including representatives of both FARC and the AUC, designated terrorist organizations by the United States government. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the investigation thus far has resulted in the seizure of more than 200 weapons and 700,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as tools and machinery used for the manufacture of automatic weapons. Marcos Daniel Jimenez, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, reiterated the importance of such efforts, saying that “those who illegally possess and export firearms are a threat to not only our community, but also [to] the citizens and residents of other countries.”
PC(USA) Calls For Accompaniers in Colombia The Presbyterian Church is set to send volunteer accompaniers to Colombia, perhaps as early as the end of this year, to help protect pastors and church members working abroad in Colombia. While the Church is ultimately seeking to install a full-time position designed to host mission groups and provide pastoral support in the region, volunteers are currently being recruited to begin this new program. They will serve 4 to 6 week interim posts as accompaniers. The accompaniers will document human rights abuses, file reports on the conflict, and escort church members to meetings and other locations. To get more information regarding this project, go to www.pcusa.org/msr/application.htm

The Colombia-Cleveland Collaboration is sponsoring the Ohio Regional Conference on Colombia Solidarity, Tuesday, November 9, 2004 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm in Cleveland, Ohio. To find out more information concerning this event, contact justice@csjcleveland.org

There will be no Colombia This Week until mid November due to staff travel. We apologize for the inconvenience.