ICRC Annual Report on Colombia
The International Committee of the Red Cross released its annual report on Colombia this week in which it concludes that while "fighting has become less intense around densely populated areas of the country ... For certain rural communities, ... it is a different story." The report also warns that the victims of Colombia's armed crisis are in danger of being forgotten, as "they remain anonymous" even though they experience counter the armed conflict's consequences on a daily basis.
The ICRC has been in Colombia since 1969. Its main objective in Colombia is to "assure a greater respect for international humanitarian law by all armed groups - particularly regarding the protection of persons not taking part in the conflict."
According to the report, ICRC delegates have recorded approximately 800 alleged violations of international humanitarian law in Colombia, including homicide, direct attacks against civilians, and people disappearing in connection with the armed conflict. In 2009 alone, the ICRC provided food parcels or vouchers, essential household items, and hygiene kits to over 50,000 internally displaced people. According to Christophe Beney, head of the ICRC delegation in Colombia, "the south and the Pacific coast are among the areas worst affected by the armed conflict. Indigenous and Afro-descendent communities are especially hard hit."
At a press conference for the launch of the report, Beney told the press, "We think that in relation to 2006, 2007 and 2008 there is a worsening of the consequences of the armed conflict in Colombia." He continued to explain the role of the FARC guerrillas and the criminal groups in Colombia's conflict: "What we see today, perhaps between the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010, is that as a guerrilla group, the FARC adapts itself dynamically" and "they have a new capacity, as we saw in the past two or three months, to continue being an important actor in the armed conflict."
The Colombian government immediately reacted to the ICRC's conclusions and Beney's statements. Below are some of the official reactions.
The ICRC's Annual Report on Colombia is available online (in Spanish).
Official Colombian government responses to the ICRC report:
Of course they (the Farc) are still a danger. But I think that this is a country very different from the country 8 years ago. I think that the country has improved, undoubtedly. But we have to keep these policies, because these groups are not going to resign. The country has to maintain strength in the security policy in order to guarantee security, tranquility, prosperity for future generations.
...
I think it is a good thing: the country today is more demanding about security. Eight years ago Colombians did not complain that someone stole their car ... or because someone stole their motorcycle or because a citizen was mugged or because someone broke into an apartment. Today they do. But I believe this is a good thing. Because it shows that there is a country more conscious of the right of the citizens to live with security, to enjoy security.
High Commissioner for Peace Frank Pearl:
"The FARC still have the capacity to do harm, but to think that they have more capacity now than eight years ago, nobody believes that."
The report "is one thing, but the reality is another."
Commander of the Colombian Armed Forces General Freddy Padilla:
"The armed forces do not refute the findings [of the Red Cross] and we are respectful of them, but what Colombians have to remember is that the FARC ... [now] has only 8,000 men."
"In 1998 the armed forces were powerless against the FARC, and in the year 2002 the guerrillas had 26,000 men not including militia, while this year the number has fallen to 8,000."