By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia – Earlier this week, twenty-three Colombian lawmakers blocked a vote on a law intended to regulate compensation for victims of violence in the country.  The proposed law establishes a process of reparation and assistance available to the more than 4 million Colombians affected by the country’s violence committed by guerrillas, paramilitaries and government forces will all be eligible under the law.

Last week, international NGO International Organization for Migration weighed in with their support for the proposed legislation by signing a memorandum with Colombia’s Vice President Angelino Garzon.  The memorandum also illustrates an initiative to create an agenda for promoting human rights, protecting migrant populations and preventing children from involvement in armed conflict.  Garzon went on record to say “the victims law would be an invaluable tool, but could have ended up being a dead letter if not for the support of international bodies such as the OIM.”

Although the law has seen significant support from international organizations, and perhaps most importantly from current Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, members of the Colombian Legislature blocked the bill from moving forward citing a “conflict of interest.”  Elias Raad, one of the representatives who blocked the vote, said that he couldn’t vote because the husband of a fourth cousin would benefit from the law.

The majority of representatives responsible for blocking the vote are supporters of former President Alvaro Uribe, who publicly opposed the law.  Uribe refused to support the bill because it includes compensation for victims of state violence and Uribe simply found that these reparations would be “too expensive.”

Interior and Justice Minister German Vargas Lleras and Agriculture Minister Juan Camilo Restrepo were vocal in their anger about the congressmen’s blocking of the vote.  Restrepo called the legislators’ actions “filibuster politics,” claiming the only aim is to obstruct the approval of the law by delaying the necessary voting rounds.  Vargas Lleras claimed that he would call “extraordinary sessions” if the House wasn’t able to vote on the bill within its legal time limit.

For more information, please see:

Colombia Reports – Lawmakers Block Victims Law Vote – 8 December 2010

Colombia Reports – International NGO Supports Victims Law – 3 December 2010

Colombia Reports – Santos to Personally Defend Victims Law – 27 September 2010

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

EASTER ISLAND, Chile—Indigenous residents of Easter Island have suffered violence at the hands of Chilean authorities who are attempting to drive them out of government buildings they began inhabiting three months ago.  The indigenous individuals, or Rapanui, claim that Chilean officials stole those buildings from their ancestors.  The authorities have been tear-gassing and shooting rubber bullets and buckshot at indigenous individuals, and at least 24 have been injured.  Leviante Araki, president of the Rapa Nui Parliament, suffered two shots and had to be flown to Santiago for medical attention.

The Rapanui have been occupying several buildings such as the Hangaroa Hotel and government offices.  Chilean forces, acting on a court order, have stormed the buildings and subdued the occupants by force before arresting them.

According to the website Saverapanui.org, “When the Rapanui gathered to protest this action, Chilean Special Forces started firing their guns and using tear gas.  The Rapanui responded by throwing rocks.  [The Forces] are hunting for individuals who have been involved with the reoccupation and those they are targeting who have helped share the story with the international press.”

On Saturday, Chile sent a plane to the island to evict the indigenous people.  Filmmaker Santi Hitorangi, who was wounded in a clash on Friday, reported that the indigenous residents have not complied, saying, “The arrival of the C-130 cargo plane with more police and armed swat teams adds to the psychological duress that’s happening here. ”  He alleged that Chile is trying to “stop any attempt of the Rapanui people to reassert their right to the land.  All we’re asking for is title to the land.  It’s a rightful claim.”  He added:   “Many including women were shot in their faces, in their heads.”

Chile’s government has been unsympathetic.  Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter called the acts of the indigenous individuals “illegal takeovers that cause damage to the island,” and said:  “The police forces acted in compliance with a court order.  That’s how institutions function, and we all must follow them.”

Easter Island is located about 7000 kilometers east of New Zealand and was annexed by Chile in 1888.  Each year, approximately 50,000 tourists visit the island, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site and famous for its monolithic sculptures.

There is concern among indigenous people that Chile is not properly regulating immigration to the island, which is incapable of sustaining such a population influx.  Indigenous individuals make up 2200 of the 5000 residents of Easter Island.  Some Rapanui have expressed fear that indigenous residents of the island could be wiped out by such practices.

For more information, please see:

Radio New Zealand-Rapa Nui activists fear uncertainty as Chilean troops remain on island-6 December 2010

Stuff-24 injured in Easter Island land protests-6 December 2010

Epoch Times-Easter Island Clashes Leaves Two Dozen Injured-6 December 2010

Press Association-Evictions continue on Easter Island-5 December 2010