Colombia protests against unlawful killings by security forces

[Judi Lynn]

Colombia protests against unlawful killings by security forces
Protest in 2006 against the murder of mining trade union leader Alejandro Uribe
6 March 2009

Demonstrations were taking place in Bogotá and other Colombian cities on Friday, focussed on the on-going problem of unlawful killings by the security forces.

Over recent years, Colombian and international human rights organizations have sought to bring this problem to national and international attention and to demand action by the authorities.

At least 330 civilians were reported to have been victims of unlawful killings by members of the security forces in 2007. The victims, mostly peasant farmers, were often presented by the military as “guerrillas killed in combat”.

~snip~
As a result of their work in exposing unlawful killings and the impunity that surrounds these cases, members of Colombian human rights organizations have received death threats and have been publicly criticized by government officials, who suggest their work is part of a guerrilla strategy to discredit the security forces.

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Colombia protests against unlawful killings by security forces

[struggle4progress]

1. Link:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/colombia-protests-against-unlawful-killings-security-forces-20090306

[Judi Lynn]

2. Wow. Am I embarrassed! Was in a huge hurry, didn't even see that. Thanks, so much. n/t