Colombia

Despite a decline in homicides, massacres, and kidnappings, and an apparent weakening of Colombia’s illegal armed groups last year, the prolonged and chronic internal armed conflict continues apace.  Coca production is up and drugtrafficking continues to fund all sides of the conflict and to foster new ties between illegal armed groups. Thousands of demobilized paramilitaries have joined up with drugtraffickers and continue to threaten social leaders and communities. The fighting has escalated in many regions of the country, aggravating an already severe humanitarian crisis and sending waves of refugees across Colombia’s borders.

The UNHCR estimates that some 140,000 Colombians in Ecuador may be in need of international protection. In 2008, according to statistics from CODHES (Consultoria para los Derechos Humanos y el Desplazamiento), the violence forcibly displaced more than 380,000 individuals, bringing the number of displaced to 4.6 million people for the period from 1985-2008 and marking a return to the high levels of displacement that occurred in 2002. Between 1997 and February 2009, the Colombian government officially registered 2.9 million of these displaced, who have abandoned approximately 5.5 million hectares of agricultural and ranching lands.

In the absence of national initiatives for a political solution to the conflict, civil society peace initiatives continue to emerge. Intellectuals and other social leaders, led by Senator Piedad Cordoba, have initiated an “epistolary dialogue” with the FARC that has secured the release of some hostages. Victims’ groups are seeking protection as they seek to establish accountability for wrong-doing and civil society leaders continue to push for a negotiated solution.