US
Groups Respond to Colombian President’s Statements on Human Rights Defenders,
September 9, 2003
For Immediate
Release—September 9, 2003
Contact Information Below
US Groups
Respond to Colombian President’s Statements on Human Rights Defenders
Vague Accusations Put Legitimate Civic Groups At Risk, Undercut Democratic
Rhetoric
Washington,
September 9—Human rights and policy organizations responded today
to what they called “inflammatory and dangerous” statements
by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in a speech to Colombian military
personnel on Monday. President Uribe derided unnamed human rights groups
in Colombia as “terrorist” agents and cowards who “[hid]
their political ideas behind human rights.”
The speech took place as eighty Colombian organizations, many of them
well-respected by the international community, issued a report criticizing
some elements of President Uribe’s national security strategy.
Uribe, who assumed the presidency in August of 2002, has implemented
a number of controversial security initiatives during his first year
in office that prompted concerns on the part of the United Nations and
some members of the US Congress.
Among the most controversial of the programs are a civilian network
of informants who supply intelligence on suspected guerillas to the
Colombian armed forces, and a peasant soldier program that trains rural
residents to serve as part-time soldiers. Critics worry that civilian
participants will become military targets, drawing non-combatants further
into a conflict that costs hundreds of lives each year. A number of
Uribe’s other initiatives—including the granting of extraordinary
judicial powers to the military, and the suspension of civil rights
and liberties in special zones of conflict—have been declared unconstitutional
by Colombia’s constitutional court. The government continues to
seek these powers through legislative means.
President Uribe declined to name specific groups in the statement, instead
referring vaguely to “human rights politickers” who criticized
his policies and who he said represented terrorist interests. Many legitimate
civic and human rights groups in Colombia become military targets of
armed actors on the left or right if they are perceived as siding with
one armed group. Organizations around the world today expressed concern
that Uribe’s statements would increase the chances that legitimate
groups, particularly those involved in issuing the report, would be
targeted.
The following analysts are available for interviews on this topic:
Adam Isacson, Senior Associate, Center for International Policy
(isacson@ciponline.org): “Of course the president is free to disagree
with the human rights community’s criticisms of his policies. It
is even legitimate for him to call them names like ‘prophets of
disaster’ or ‘human rights politickers.’ But calling
them ‘terrorist spokespeople’ is something else entirely.
“This is not a question of political correctness. It’s a question
of political space. In Colombia today, to be accused by someone in power
of being a guerrilla fellow-traveler is tantamount to receiving a death
sentence. Uribe applied his remarks to an entire sector of non-violent
activists, scholars, opposition politicians and dissidents. He spoke
of groups he sees as legitimate and those he sees as ‘defenders
of terrorism,’ but failed to distinguish them clearly.
“For a country’s president to make such a serious accusation
– without presenting a shred of evidence or naming a single person
or group under suspicion – is an act of pure cowardice. It makes
the job of defending human rights in Colombia many times more difficult.
Comments like these must stop now, and an apology is in order.”
Neil Jeffery, Executive Director, US Office on Colombia (neil_jeffery@usofficeoncolombia.org):
“Democratic governments around the world recognize that a strong
and independent civil society is fundamental for the protection of democracy,
justice and the rule of law. President Uribe has shown today that he
does not. Members of Congress will certainly take his comments into
account the next time they consider providing Colombia with more military
aid.”
Lisa Haugaard, Executive Director, Latin America Working Group
(lisah@lawg.org): “Mr. Uribe's diatribe against human rights groups
in front of a military audience marks a dangerous turn of events. These
vague accusations could give a green light to those who would attack
legitimate opposition politicians, union activists, human rights defenders
and community leaders in the name of fighting insurgency. The context
of Mr. Uribe’s comments is particularly disturbing given the documented
ties that continue to exist between some sectors of the Colombian armed
forces and paramilitary groups, who often target human rights defenders.
Human rights defenders are valuable assets in any democracy, and among
Colombia's most valuable and endangered resources. Mr. Uribe should
work with them—not leave them undefended.”
Kimberly Stanton, Deputy Director, Washington Office on Latin America
(kstanton@wola.org): “Mr. Uribe's strident attack has placed the
lives of all Colombian human rights defenders at risk. The Colombian
government seems unable to comprehend that dissent is essential to democracy.
The president's statements will only deepen international concern about
his commitment to human rights. No one should expect Colombian democracy
to emerge strengthened from Mr. Uribe's time in office.”
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