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ARMED CONFLICT Here's some further information on the armed conflict in Colombia. For a more general context see Colombia background. Links between the state forces and paramilitaries The widespread, institutionalised links between the Colombian armed forces and right-wing paramilitary death squads have been well-documented by national and international human rights bodies.
Paramilitary-military strategy Paramilitary groups - working in colaboration with state forces - have cleared the way for development projects based on the interests of national and multinational corporations across the country through violence against and forced displacement of rural communities occupying territories that are strategic for these projects and repression of human rights and social activists.
The "peace process" with the paramilitaries Talks started between the government and state-linked paramilitaries soon after President Uribe took office in August 2002. Many paramilitaries signed a ceasefire in December 2002 and throughout 2003 and 2004 paramilitary commanders negotiated with the government to turn in arms to avoid extradition to the US drug-trafficking charges. The paramilitary groups haven't been effectively disbanded, enabling them to reform as urban mafia-like groups such as the 'Aguilas Negras' (Black Eagles) who continue to threaten, torture and assasinate trade unionists and social activists. Very few victims of paramilitary violence have received compensation due to lack of investigation and paramilitary assets have been largely untouched. The 'Justice and Peace Law' has facilitated the legitimisation of paramilitary activities with many going on to work in security related jobs and more senior demobbed paramilitaries setting up NGOs or applying for political office.
Impunity Most human rights violations, especially those carried out by the state and para-state forces, are never brought to justice, making it easier to continue with the repression.
The "parapolitica" scandal The "parapolitical" (paramilitary politics) scandal broke in June 2005 when paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso said in an interview that 35% of the Colombian Congress elected in 2002 had paramilitary ties. Following this revelation, which had long been an open secret, details of the ties between politicians and the main paramilitary group, the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, became known. The first arrests of members of the Colombian Congress were made in November 2006, and by May 2008, 62 members were under investigation, with 33 of these in detention. Most of those officials, politicians and ex-politicians implicated have links to President Uribe's regime, including an ex-senator cousin. His family is implicated in a paramilitary massacre of farmers on the family ranch, and despite denying any involvement, a video shows Uribe at a planning meeting with paramilitaries. In order to tackle what has become an international embarrassment for the Uribe regime, in April 2008 the government proposed a political reform law, under which parties cannot replace senators suspended for having suspected paramilitary connections. Other heads of state continue to support Uribe's position that these investigations are a sign of the health of the Colombian judicial system and his regime's 'democratic security' policies.'
"Democratic Security", illegal detentions and extra-judicial executions In his first term in office, far-right President Alvaro Uribe implemented a policy of "Democratic Security", which has involved the strengthening of the police and armed forces, the recruitment of ‘peasant soldiers’ in the countryside and extensive surveillance of the population, including networks of ‘citizen informers’. ‘Democratic Security’ is now notorious for leading to an increase in violence against civilians by state forces, particularly mass detention and extra-judicial executions of civilians at the hands of the military.
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