CPTnet
14 July 2007
COLOMBIA: Nueva Granada Battalion abuses human rights in southern Bolivar

On 22 June 2007, Sarah MacDonald and Suzanna Collerd attended a meeting held
in Micoahumado, a township in the south of the Department (province) of
Bolivar with representatives of many other national and international
entities to hear about the context of the conflict throughout the
department. Those attending included three agencies of the United Nations,
the Geneva Call, Redepaz, Colombia Contra Minas (Colombia Against
Landmines), Project Counseling Service, the Human Rights Ombudsman, the
Magdalena Medio Program for Development and Peace, and the Dioceses of
Magangue. All of the groups expected to hear more complaints about abuses
by the ELN guerrillas who had recently mined and then de-mined a community
roadway.

Instead, these organizations heard complaints from members of the
Humanitarian Spaces of Alto Arenal, Alto Rio Viejo, Micoahumado, Corcovado,
the Peasant Reserve, and Tiquisio regarding violations of human rights and
infractions of international human rights law by the Nueva Granada battalion
of the Colombian Army.

A variety of communities reported illegal detentions and the retention of
residents' identification cards for unknown purposes. Generally, the army
is accusing civilians of collaboration with guerrillas and often limits the
transportation of food in the area and the movements of the population. One
woman reported that members of the battalion entered her house, hit her
repeatedly, and threatened to burn her eight-month-old son.

The organizations left the meeting with commitments to denounce these abuses
and support the communities. CPTers stayed for two more nights as part of
their ongoing accompaniment commitment.

The evening of 22 June, CPT observed fifteen soldiers of the Nueva Granada
battalion eating in a local restaurant. CPTers spoke with the commander of
the group and asked that the soldiers leave because International
Humanitarian law prohibits the presence of armed actors in civilian spaces.
The commander responded that he had received training in International
Humanitarian law, and knew that his soldiers should not be present. He then
asked that the remainder of the meals be packed and taken to the soldiers'
camp in the community cemetery. However, the cemetery is also civilian
space, and a place where the ELN has attacked the army, putting nearby
civilians at great risk.

The soldiers continued to camp at the cemetery for the next two nights.
Meanwhile, individual and pairs of soldiers continued to enter civilian
homes and stores, disrespecting International Humanitarian Law and placing
the civilian population at risk. Despite committing to leave the area on 23
June, soldiers were still present when CPT left on the morning of 24 June.

On 6 July, an unidentified guerrilla group attacked the soldiers at the
entrance to Micoahumado, killing one sergeant and two soldiers.