Peace Timeline: 2002

U.S. Military and Police Aid - Focus on Arauca and Putumayo:Timeline of Current Events Arauca:
March 2004

March 26

The fear of violence and the state's inability to protect civil authorities has led Arauca's local government leaders to take their security into their own hands. Members of the city council, the mayor's and the governor's office have begun carrying guns for self-defense, and many have opted to pay for private bodyguards out of their own pockets. The governor, who carries a gun in his belt, said, "nobody is guaranteed 100% security, but if people are armed, criminals will think twice before they attack."

[El Tiempo, http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/naci/colorien/2004-03-27/ARTICULO-WEB-_NOTA_INTERIOR-1567558.html]

March 15

According to police authorities, paramilitary forces killed nine people in Cravo Norte. Among the victims was a family of three shot about 1 kilometer from their home. Three others were tortured in front of their neighbors, and then killed for "not collaborating" with the group. The government ombudsman (Defensor del Pueblo), Vólmar Perez, called for the states security organisms to "protect civil society in this region of the country, which has been so hard hit by the constant battles between illegal armed actors."

[http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/coar/ACC_MILITARES/accionesarmadas/ARTICULO-WEB-_NOTA_INTERIOR-1554037.html]