By Gina Spigarelli On April 9, the National Day for Memory and Solidarity with Victims in Colombia, a massive march for peace was organized and carried out by the Marcha Patriotica social movement. According to many accounts, the march had more than a million...
extrajudicial killings
State Retracts Peace Community Smear – But President Doesn’t Show
By FOR Colombia Wednesday, June 5, 2013, 10:41am By Emily Schmitz The brutal massacre that took the lives of eight civilians, including three children on February 21, 2005 in the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartadó, has become an emblematic case of government...
Unraveling Justice: Military Jurisdiction Expanded in Colombia
By Lisa Haugaard, Latin America Working Group On December 11, the day after International Human Rights Day, the Colombian Congress approved a justice “reform” bill that will likely result in many gross human rights violations by members of the military being tried in...
Colombian Army Officers Implicated in Killings to Be Promoted
By Susana Pimiento Sharp contrast with the Petraeus and Allen cases Recent U.S. news has been flooded with stories of generals David Petraeus and John Allen, both involved in what is perceived as improper conduct. The scandals cost Gen. Petraeus his position as head...
International Court Investigates Colombia for “False Positive” Killings
By Susana Pimiento On November 15, the International Criminal Court gave Colombia a clear warning that the Court expects accountability at the senior level for the serious crimes that fall under its jurisdiction, or else it may pursue a formal investigation. The...
Behind Flowers and Flags, Unionists Still Face Violence
By FOR Colombia Thursday, May 31, 2012, 12:50am By Emily Schmitz In April, distracted by the scandals of Barack Obama’s Secret Service detail at the Summit of the Americas, a six-year stagnant trade agreement between the U.S. and Colombia was quietly implemented. With...