|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colombian Civilians Continue to Be Caught in the Crossfire,
May 14, 2002
After the recent massacre of over one hundred Colombian civilians in Choco near the Panamanian border, a U.N. human rights team began an investigation, at the request of president Andrés Pastrana, on Friday, May 10th, 2002. Although FARC guerrillas claimed responsibility for the fire bomb that destroyed the church where the civilians sought refuge from a battle between paramilitaries and guerrillas, the U.N. is concerned with the paramilitary presence in the area as well as possible government negligence. The U.N., have classified the killings as a "war crime". Pastrana as well as several European diplomats have visited the area to survey the site where 117 townspeople, including 45 children were killed. The president and many Colombians are frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of support from the European community whom does not condemn the FARC as terrorists, as does the U.S. and Colombia. Formal complaints have been lodged against the E.U. by Colombia regarding the European position. In spite of varied international opinion, the rural poor are still the ones caught in the crossfire. Since the massacre, hundreds of people have fled the region. According to the UN, around 12 percent of Colombia's 40 million population is black, and yet more than 35 percent of the displaced people are black, or indigenous.
News Stories:
"Denuncian presencia paramilitar en Vigía del Fuerte,"
"Fiscales realizan diligencia judicial en Bojayá en calma,"
"Families flee their war-torn villages: 800 Colombians face bleak future,"
"UN Probes Colombia Church Deaths,"
"Colombians Angry at European Refusal,"
"Colombian President Condemns Attacks,"
"Village had 'no time for prayers': Colombians cringe in civil war's cross
fire,"
"Colombian War Brings to Village Altar," |
Last updated: January 7, 2003