UN calls for probe in Colombia deaths of protestors

juancegomez says on Mar 15, 2008, 15:27:

Can't reject this enough, though it's sadly true it's not completely surprising. Evidently, there are still paramilitaries and, at least, other criminals who are willing to engage in similar actions even if they're better described using other words. Or whatever.

Also, sorry if this bothers anyone...but from what I've read elsewhere, there are partially conflicting reports about this.

It seems that some of these individuals were killed before and others after the event...some were actual organizers or otherwise participated in the protests, some did not (or there is no explicit mention of their status, if you prefer).

In short: I'd like to read the actual UN statement to shed some light on a few things, but I can't seem to find it.

Would appreciate a little help there, if possible...I want to read the original statement, not press reports.

Alma del Norte says on Mar 15, 2008, 15:27:

As I participated in Bogota, I thought about the courage of those organising and participating in the smaller events, like Bucaramanga where the Aguilas Negras have been particularly active in making death threats against trade unionists of late.

La vida es una rutina

bamacellist says on Mar 15, 2008, 22:38:

Anybody who doesn't understand why it's a legitimate statement that paramiltarism is over should start thinking, and perhaps refrain from making political commentary until they've figured it out.

The paramilitary groups as historically defined had a complete and now closed life-cycle. They came into being and served a purpose which was, at least for a time, legitimate. They mutated into a multi-headed monster for which a particular solution was created. Any members of any paramilitary groups which failed to participate before the deadline and any groups which have formed after that time or which may yet form and engage in activities such as those of the former officially recognized paramility groups are simply criminal gangs. And no, this is not semantic nonsense. It is critical to the prosecution and sentencing of these groups. By refusing to call these newly organized groups paramilitaries, they are explicitly being denied any hope of taking advantage of the leniency afforded the historical paramilitaries. Societally, they are being denied any of the historical legitimacy of the earlier groups and this is important, too. Not only does this distinction need to be maintained as a deterrent to recruitment, but also as a way of maginalizing them from exercising the kind of social and political influence that was such a problem with the earlier groups.

You want to push for making the combatting of this activity a higher priority, I won't complain. It's got to be dealt with, and forcefully, but if you can't understand the importance of this usage of terminology, then you are making yourself a target for skepticism as well as wasting time and energy energy arguing a point which is not, I hope, ultimately as important to you as the actual activites of these neo-paramiltary gangs.

"The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand."

Alma del Norte says on Mar 15, 2008, 22:54:

What do we call them, then? Same people, same agenda, bosses and targets. Hereafter be referred to as: "neo-paramiltary gangs"? I understand and appreciate what you are saying. I'm not trying to be argumentative, but wouldn't anything else be semantics?

PS: we don't all agree that it was ever legitimate.

La vida es una rutina

Alma del Norte says on Mar 17, 2008, 08:36:

Juance, I can't find any UN reference to this. I have this list supplied by Colombia Solidarity:

Assassinated Trade Unionists in the week of 6 March

Carmen Cecilia Carvajal, teacher. Killed 4 March, in Ocaña.

Leonidas Gómez Rozo, member of the bankworkers union, Unión Nacional de Empleados Bancarios (Uneb), president of the CITY-BANK Branco. Killed on 5 March, in Bogotá.

Gildardo Gómez Alzate, teacher and activist of the Asociación de Institutores de Antioquia (Adida). Killed 7 March, in Medellín.

Carlos Burbano, vice-president of the Hospitalworkers Union, Asociación Nacional de Trabajadores Hospitalarios. Killed 11 March, San Vicente del Caguán.

.

See images of 6 March mobilisations in Colombia and worldwide at:

http://www.movimientodevictimas.org/

La vida es una rutina

cali373 says on Mar 17, 2008, 14:50:

I think I follow you on this. but just like Alma suggested, what should we call them? Organized crime? Their actions are similar to the AUC and the targets are also similar. They are targetting non guerilla related individuals who don´t fit the agenda of the status quo.

this is just opinion but It is seems the Government security forces are not giving these Neo-paramilitary groups a high priorty, which could mean theare are being protected and that usually has politicians involved.

So what do we call them.

Smile if you are a thinker!