South America

Indigenous Residents Used as “Human Shields”

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia—Eight people were killed in a clash between Colombian military forces and members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the FARC). The deadly conflict took place in Cauca, which is a province located in the southwestern part of the country. Cauca has been plagued with violence and human rights violations by frequent invasions by the FARC’s guerrillas. The Colombian army released information about the most recent clash between the FARC and the military on Sunday.

The battle between the military and the 6th Front of the FARC was sparked on Friday of last week. The site of the clash was a rural area located near Toribio and Caloto, two cities that are notorious for the fact that rebel fighters often target them.

Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera spoke out against the FARC on Saturday from Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca province. Rivera accused the FARC rebels of abusing the indigenous people who reside in these areas. He added that the FARC use these civilians as “human shields” during clashes that occur between the rebel group and the armed forces. Rivera stated that acts such as these are major human rights violations.

Indigenous leaders from Cauca responded to the violence and Rivera’s statements on Sunday, stressing that Colombian soldiers have also used indigenous residents as “human shields.” The leaders told Caracol Radio that indigenous people living in Colombia are often caught in the cross-fire between the FARC and the government.

Indigenous leader Marcos Yule said on the radio that certain communities that have been caught in such fighting have declared “permanent assemblies” that will examine the conflict that is taking place. The assemblies will seek to encourage respect for indigenous individuals’ rights.

Of the eight victims who perished in the weekend’s violence, six were guerrilla fighters (FARC rebels) and two were Colombian soldiers. Approximately thirty guerrillas who were involved in the conflict scattered after the violence; according to the Colombian air force, the guerrillas were redeployed into other areas.

For more information, please see:

People’s Daily-6 guerrillas, 2 soldiers die in latest combat in Colombia-24 January 2011

Latin American Herald Tribune-Six Guerrillas, Two Soldiers Die in Fighting in Colombia-23 January 2011

Coffe Today-Six Guerrillas and Two Soldiers Were Killed in The Battle in Southwest Colombia-23 January 2011

Correa Pushes Reforms, Tells Citizens to “Trust in the Government”

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador—President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, has proposed new constitutional reforms that many see as an effort by the unpopular leader to draw support.  Correa submitted ten questions to the Constitutional Court, including reforms targeting crime and the economy.

Correa is attempting to appear tough on crime in a country that has been swamped by criminals.  One of Correa’s sought reforms would alter a preventative detention law that allows detainees to be let go if they have not gone to trial within one year.  He also desires to revoke measures currently taken to protect suspects accused of serious crimes.  Another proposal would prohibit bullfighting and gambling.

“These people have come to kill and rob, and we must respond to that reality,” Correa announced to gain support for his proposals.  He added that he wanted to discourage “corruption and incompetence.”

Furthermore, Correa would like to decrease the number of justices on the Judiciary Council (there are currently nine.)

Carlos Vera, an ex-television anchorman, has spearheaded an effort to overturn the president’s mandate.  1.579 million signatures would be needed to have Vera’s request examined, and Vera said he has already acquired 79 percent.  Vera has objected to Correa’s proposals, citing similarities to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s “authoritarian” ruling style.  Correa and Chavez are political allies.

Correa is in the midst of a four year term and may run for office again in 2013.  In September, 2010, a violent police uprising occurred that Correa (and many others) viewed as a thwarted coup.  Analysts theorize that Correa’s present proposed referendum is an effort to regain power and legitimacy.  Three of the president’s predecessors were thrown out of office before completing their terms.

Correa made a televised address to defend his reforms.  “Trust in the government,” he appealed to citizens, before saying he would resort to referendums “as many times as necessary” to obtain his reforms.

The Constitutional Court will need to verify the legality of Correa’s submitted questions before they can be sent to the Electoral Council for approval.

For more information, please see:

CNN-Ecuador president pushes for referendum-18 January 2011

AFP-Ecuador’s Correa seeks judicial, economic reforms-18 January 2011

Wall Street Journal-Ecuador President Sends to Constitutional Court Referendum Questions-17 January 2011

Former Drug Lord Faces Prison For Murder

By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

Former drug lord Don Mario in police custody (Colombia Reports)
Former drug lord Don Mario in police custody (Colombia Reports)

BOGOTA, Colombia – Former drug lord, Daniel Rendon Herrera, or “Don Mario,” was convicted Monday and sentenced to 17 years in prison for the murder of an attorney. Don Mario was convicted for aggravated homicide, kidnapping and conspiracy.

According to a judge in the central Colombian city of Villavicencio, “Don Mario” ordered the kidnapping and murder of attorney Jose Absalom Achury Florez. This occurred while Mario was the paramilitary leader of the drug gang “Los Urabeños.”

The attorney was kidnapped by paramilitary officers from the town of Granada, Meta, in May of 2003. He was found dead 11 days later in his car 10 miles from where he was kidnapped.

Late last month, Colombian officers dismantled Mario’s drug operation, capturing seven of its members in two northwestern provinces. Alleged gang leader Luis Eduardo Vargas, alias “Pipon,” who is accused of committing hundreds of crimes in the region and of smuggling drugs to the United States via Central America is one of the members said to be detained.

Mario has been in custody since April, 2009 and the Colombian Supreme Court in March denied a request for his extradition from the United States, which accused him of providing material support to a terrorist organization and of conspiring to import, manufacture, possess and distribute cocaine in the United States. More than 3,000 homicides and other crimes, including forced displacement and disappearance, have been attributed to the Mario’s gang.

For more information, please see:

Colombia Reports – “Don Mario” Sentenced to 17 Years in Jail – 18 January 2011

Colombia Reports- Authorities Dismantle “Don Mario’s” Gang – 31 December 2010

Latin American Herald Tribune – Colombia Busts Gang Linked to Notorious Drug Lord – 31 December 2010

Survivors of Brazil’s Worst Natural Disaster Struggle Without Government Aid

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South Americ
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Mudslides have ravaged Brazil, killing over 600. (Photo courtesy of ABC)
Mudslides have ravaged Brazil, killing over 600. (Photo courtesy of ABC)

TERESOPOLIS, Brazil—More than 600 people are thought to be dead after severe floods and dangerous mudslides that occurred on January 13 in Brazil. Today, numerous survivors are struggling to endure without much-needed help from their government. At least 14,000 people are believed to be homeless after what is already being called the country’s worst natural disaster.

Rain continues to fall on affected areas, making bad conditions even worse. According to the Associated Press, about 225 federal police officers are working to enforce order and fire departments have reported deploying 2,500 rescue workers. But the poor weather conditions have blocked roads and many areas are unreachable, leaving injured or isolated citizens without aid.

In some areas, the police officers do little more than stand and watch as survivors haul supplies to other neighborhoods in need. Sgt. Luciano Comin, dressed in a neat, clean uniform, said, “Our function here today is to avoid looting.”

Survivors like Wanderson Ferreira de Carvalho are trying everything in their power to stay alive and help others in need. He told the Associated Press that 23 of his family members had perished in the disasters, including his wife and 2-year-old son. Still in a state of shock, he worried about friends and neighbors who remain isolated because of flooded roads.

Carvalho, like other survivors, has been exhausting himself carrying supplies (food, water, blankets) long distances over flooded paths in hopes of saving other victims. “We have to help those who are alive,” he stressed. “There is no more help for those who are dead. I’ve cried a lot and sometimes my mind goes blank and I almost forget what happened. But we have to do what we must to help the living.”

Many residents have expressed doubt that the government will ever attempt to render any aid; they have depended instead on their own willpower and the kindess of friends and relatives. “It has been four days [since the disasters struck],” one survivor said. “The president has flown over, I saw on TV. Is it taking them this long to get organized?” Another citizen, who carried supplies for herself, her mother and infant daughter, accused, “Where is the government? What are they doing? This is shameful.”

President Dilma Rousseff has assigned $60 million in aid but only half of that amount will arrive in local accounts by Monday, six days after the disasters.

The mudslides struck a mountainous area 900 square miles in size, 40 miles north of Rio.

For more information, please see:

NY Times-Rain Hampers Search After Brazilian Mudslides-16 January 2011

AP-Brazil slide survivors left to fend on own-16 January 2011

Examiner-Stories of horror as flood survivors in Brazil without government aid-15 January, 2011

Venezuela Demands Removal Of Colombian Soap Opera With Dog Named “Little Hugo”

By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela’s government is urging a television station to stop airing a Colombian soap opera featuring a character named “Venezuela” who has a tiny dog named “Little Hugo.”  Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission issued a statement Thursday condemning “Chepe Fortuna,” a Colombian soap opera, for its alleged “degrading treatment of Venezuela.”

The Commission is urging the station to “immediately stop airing” the program.  According to the Commissions statement, “[the soap opera] intends to underestimate the intelligence of viewers by presenting two characters identified as sisters, Colombia and Venezuela, where the latter is repeatedly characterized as associated with criminal activities.”

Miguel Angel Baquero, the producer and script writer for the show, said that Venezuelan officials are taking things too seriously. “Here we are not underestimating anybody,” Baquero said. “This is humor. Making comedy is the most difficult thing to do, and to do it in a simple style that can successfully cross borders is even harder.”

The Commission presented clips of the soap opera which show the character named Venezuela calling out for her dog, Little Hugo, and claiming that “without Little Hugo, Venezuela will be free.” The Commission claims that such content “promoted political and racial intolerance, xenophobia and incitement of crime.”

This is not the first time that this particular television station has come under fire. In 2009, it was  ordered to stop showing episodes of the US cartoon Family Guy, over its apparent endorsement of the use of marijuana. In 2008, the channel was forced to broadcast public service films as a punishment after it broadcast episodes of The Simpsons,  a cartoon that the authorities consider inappropriate for children, during a morning time slot.

President Hugo Chavez maintains tight control over the media in Venezuela, causing many opposition groups to accuse him of trying prevent coverage of political discontent.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Venezuela Anger at “Mocking” Colombia Soap Opera – 15 January 2011

CNN – Venezuela Slams Soap Opera Featuring Dog Named “Little Hugo” – 15 January 2011

Colombia Reports – Venezuela Demands Soap Opera to be Taken off the Air because of “Little Hugo” – 15 January 2011

Wall Street Journal – Venezuela Urges Removal of Colombian TV Show for Insults – 14 January 2011