Colombia: Peasants in Cimitarra violated in their rights

Strong fighting between the Colombian army and the guerrilla threatens the peasant population in the region of the River Cimitarra Valley, Central Magdalena. Furthermore, peasants from different localities have been tortured and arrested by army members and alleged paramilitaries. About 25 peasant families were forced to leave the place after the army occupied San Francisco village, on the bank of the Cimitarra River. After meetings with 15 active communal councils, a fact finding commission composed of representatives of the Peasant Association of the River Cimitarra Valley (ACVC), NGOs and the Integrated Peace Observatory denounced severe violations of human rights and demanded that the State should fulfil its obligations to protect the men and women peasants which are being used as human shields by the combatant parties.  

In view of this grave situation it is very important to pressurize the Colombian authorities to take urgent measures to respect, protect and guarantee the rights of about 25.000 peasants of the Peasant Reserve Zone (ZRC) of the Cimitarra River Valley. Please send letters to the President of the Republic, with copy for the Colombian Institute for Agrarian Reform INCODER and to the ACVC.