By Cintia Garcia

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA—The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC) has released the first group of child soldiers in accordance to the peace accord signed last month. A total of 13 children were released on Saturday. The FARC claims to have 21 child soldiers in its ranks under the age of fifteen.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) received the child soldiers and gave them mental and physical evaluations. Of the 13 children, eight of them have been handed over to UNICEF Colombia—the remaining five will also be given to UNICEF. The privacy of the children, including their identity, have been kept under discretion in order to successfully complete the mission. The ICRC stated that, “The girls and boys were received in establishments suitable for the process of reestablishment of their rights so that they are able to develop in the best conditions possible.” The ICRC confirmed that the ultimate goal in the process is reunification with their families. The Colombian High Commissioner for Peace, Sergio Jaramillo, stated, “They are going to gradually leave the camps in different regions of the country. It’s not going to be all at once—it is a process and this the first phase.” According to the Secretary-General’s Special representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, confirmed that both the Government and FARC agreed on the details on Tuesday of the release and reintegration of the children in compliance with their best interest.

FARC has been known for forcing children to become soldiers, a human rights violation. In some cases, minors have been kidnapped while others have joined willingly. Colombian sources have claimed that half of all FARC members were recruited as children. The release of the child soldiers comes a month after the historic peace accord was reached in Havana, Cuba. In the course of the 52 year conflict between the Colombian government and FARC, 220,000 people have been killed.

For more information, please see:

BBC—Colombia Farc Rebels Hand Over Child Soldiers—11 September 2016.

CNN—Colombia’s Farc Rebels Release Child Soldiers in Potential Peace Deal—10 September 2016.

UN News Centre—Colombia: UN Official Welcomes Start of Reintegration of Children from FARC-EP on Saturday—8 September 2016.

 

By Cintia Garcia

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

Buenos Aires, Argentina—Large oil companies are facing resistance against fracking from the Mapuche indigenous community located in the northern Patagonia region of Argentina. The Mapuche are claiming that their natural resources are being polluted as a result of gas extraction techniques.

The region targeted by the oil companies is known as Vaca Muerte in the northern province of Neuqen. It is the second largest hydrocarbon reserve in the world following the United States according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. But the region is also home to various indigenous families who claim that the pollution is contaminating their drinking and farming water. Albino Campo, the leader of a Mapuche community, Lof Campo Maripe, told BBC that, “The Mapuche people are angry. We feel like they have enslaved our land. It’s as if someone came into your house without asking. They have contaminated everything.” Campo also stated that their pipes and water used to be clear, but now the pipes are covered with black grease. In addition to black pipes, the water deposited from the pipes contains murky residue. The Mapuche also claim that the contaminated water is causing birth defects among their farm animals. According to BBC, Conservationist groups are also joining the movement demanding an end to fracking in indigenous territory, farming land, nature reserves, urban areas, and sites near water resources such as rivers, lakes, and lagoons.

The Vaca Muerte region is enticing for oil companies because it is an opportunity for Argentina to become self sufficient for many years to come. Fracking in the area could extract enough oil to cover the demands in Argentina providing cheap energy. Pro-government Congressman Eduardo Amadeo stated that, “Argentina needs oil and gas. You cannot stop production for 45 million people because one or two thousand people feel that their rights are affected.” The YPF and Chevron have the strongest partnership in the region. Chevron has agreed to invest 16 billion in the development through its partnership. YPF and Chevron have drilled 420 wells and are expected to drill 200 more. The companies have denied the allegations of contamination.

For more information, please see:

BBC—Mapuche Community in Argentina Fights Fracking Site—5 September 2016

Humanosphere—Argentina’s Indigenous Communities Unite to Stop Fracking—7 September 2016

Telesur—Mapuches Fight Back Agaisnt Fracking in Argentine Patagonia—7 September 2016

By Cintia Garcia

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL—The Brazilian Senate voted 61 to 20 to impeach Dilma Rousseff from her term as president. After a long impeachment trial, Dilma Rousseff was found guilty of manipulating the federal budget.

In order to impeach Dilma Rousseff, two-thirds of senators—54 out of 81—was needed to make her impeachment final. Also held was a vote to strip Dilma Rousseff of her rights to run for office. The second vote did not pass, the senate opposed with 42 in favor, 36 opposed and 3 abstentions—she will be allowed to run for office in the future. Although she was removed from office in May, the impeachment process began eight months ago. The vice president, Michel Temer, became interim president after her removal. He was sworn in as president following the vote on Wednesday afternoon for the remainder of her term, which ends in 2018. The end of Dilma Rousseff’s term also marks the end of the 13-year reign of the Leftist Workers’ Party. Under President Temer, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party will take over and shift the government to the right.

Dilma Rousseff continues to claim her innocence, stating, “When Brazil or when a president is impeached for a crime that they have not committed, the name we have for this in democracy—its not an impeachment, it is a coup.”

She was first elected to the presidency in 2011 and was reelected in 2014. Her approval ratings during her second term dropped due to an economic downturn when inflation and unemployment rates began to surge upward.

President Michel Temer enters his term with low approval rates and scandal. Most recently, Temer appointed an all male cabinet and no Afro-Brazilian ministers, causing an uproar in Brazil since 51 percent of Brazilians identify themselves as black or mixed race. Furthermore, President Temer has appointed new cabinet members and office holders that have resigned due to anti-corruption accusations—including attempts to intervene in the investigation of the oil company Petrobras.

For more information, please see:

CNN—Brazil’s Senate Ousts Dilma Rousseff in Impeachment Vote—31 August 2016.

New York Times—Dilma Rousseff is Ousted as Brazil’s President in Impeachment Vote—31 August 2016.

The Washington Post—Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff Ousted in Impeachment Vote—31 August 2016.

By Cintia Garcia

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA—The FARC and the Colombian government announced the end of the longest guerilla war in the Americas on Wednesday August 24 in Havana, Cuba. After four years of negotiations, both parties have reached a deal outlining the timeframe in which the FARC will turn in their arms and reintegrate into society.

The negotiation team released a 297-page document detailing the accords. The deal calls upon the FARC to end their drug trafficking activities. It also calls on the government to develop the rural impoverished communities of Colombia. Additionally, the deal allows FARC to reintegrate into Colombian politics by becoming a left-wing political party that will have the governments protection. The deal gives certain FARC members amnesty, and they will not be able to be indicted for war crimes.   The FARC will also hand in their weapons in a transfer to the UN monitors— though a date for the transfer has not been established.

Although the parties have agreed on the details of the peace accords, the people of Colombia will vote to approve the deal in a referendum that will be held on October 2. President Juan Manuel Santos stated, “It’s in your hands, of all Colombians, to decide with your vote to support this historic accord that puts an end to this long conflict between the children of the same nation.” The FARC will meet in mid-September to ratify the accord.

Hundreds gathered in Bogota to watch the broadcasting of the peace accords and to celebrate the end of a chapter. As President Juan Manuel Santos announced, “Today begins the end of the suffering, the pain and the tragedy of war…Let’s open the door together to a new stage in our history.” The ceasefire will officially commence on Sunday at midnight when both the FARC and the government will announce at the same time a definitive ceasefire.

For the past fifty-two years Colombia has experienced an intrastate conflict that has displaced millions and killed 260,000 victims. FARC was created in the 1960s on Marxist beliefs demanding land and social reform.

 For more information, please see:

New York Times—Colombia and FARC Reach Deal to End the Americas’ Longest War—24 August 2016.

NPR—FARC Rebels, Colombian Government Sign Historic Peace Treaty—25 August 2016.

Colombian Reports—FARC Peace Deal to be Signed in 2nd Half of September, ahead of Vote—26 August 2016.

BBC—Colombia Peace Deal: FARC to Announce Ceasefire on Sunday—27 August 2016.

By Cintia Garcia
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia—The citizens of Choco, Colombia have been on strike for the past six days. They are protesting against the governments inaction in the region that has led to neglect, corruption and poverty. Forty-thousand residents marched and protested on Monday against the neglect. Under the presidential administration of Juan Manuel Santos the region has experienced an increase in poor living conditions and its citizens have vowed not to return to work until the living conditions improve.

The demographics of Choco is 90% afro-descendants and 10% indigenous. For decades the providence has been neglected by the government and deprived of basic necessities. Choco has the highest poverty rate in the country with 65% of its residents living below poverty and 37.1% are living in extreme poverty according to Colombia’s statistic agency. The region experiences rampant violence from drug trafficking activities due to the lack of government resources to fund military personal. About 72% of the population has been a victim of crime and the homicide rate in 2015 was 69.14 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The citizens are demanding more state services including hospitals to serve the region. Currently, the capital of Choco, Quibdo, is served by one hospital which caters to the medical needs of 400,000 people. The hospital has been plagued with dire conditions including corruption and embezzlement of healthcare funds. In addition to a lack of health care services, there is limited access to clean water. Many of the water sources are contaminated with mercury caused by gold mining. Furthermore, the providence has two roads that are unpaved with no roads that lead to the nearest city of Medellin—the providence is isolated from the rest of Colombia.

Because of the poverty,  the child mortality rate in Choco is 70.4 per thousand, which is 10 times the child mortality rate in the United States. The death rate of children before reaching the age of one is 42%. Many of the deaths are due to malnutrition and illnesses that are preventable including malaria. The citizens will continue its protest. The government has responded to the strike by promising to visit the region.

For more information, please see:

Colombia Reports—West Colombia Province Strikes to Demand End to Rampant State Neglect—17 August 20

El espectador—Choco Sigue Firme en el Paro, el Lunes Marcharan mas de 40 mil—21 August 2016  

Colombia Reports—Colombia’s Choco: From a Tropical Paradise to a Jungle Hell—22 August 2016

Telesur—Manifestantes del Choco Esperan Commission del Gobierno—22 August 2016