ReliefWeb

In recent weeks several civilians have been injured and thousands have been forcibly displaced as the armed conflict between the security forces and the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) escalates in Cauca Department, Southern Colombia.

Over more than a week, fighting between the security forces and the FARC in the municipalities of Toribío, Jambaló, Caldono, Silva, Caloto, Miranda, Suárez, Morales and Argelia in Cauca Department have put the civilian population, including Indigenous, peasant farmer and Afro descendant communities, on the front line.

In Toribío, which has a large Indigenous population, at least 14 civilians, including medical personnel, have been injured, 400 have been forcibly displaced and over 80 homes have been damaged, according to the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman. The injuries are believed to have been caused by FARC explosives. In Argelia, another explosion attributed to the FARC led to the death of a boy and injured several other people, including a girl, while some 1,500 civilians have been forced to flee their homes and 74 homes, a school and two community halls, have been severely damaged , according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Human Rights Ombudsman has warned of a humanitarian crisis in the area.

The Association of Indigenous Cabildos of Northern Cauca (Asociación Cabildeo Indígenas del Norte de Cauca, ACIN) has called for an end to fighting between the security forces and the FARC and called on them to leave the Indigenous territories. The Defence Minister has claimed the FARC has infiltrated the Indigenous movement. This has threatened to expose the civilian population in the area, especially Indigenous Peoples, to further attack in what is an already tense environment. ACIN, together with several human rights organizations and trade unions in Cauca Department, were also recently threatened and accused of being “defenders of the guerrilla”.

Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:

• Reminding the authorities of their obligation to protect civilians in line with international humanitarian law (IHL), including the right of civilians not to be drawn into the hostilities, thereby respecting the principle of distinction.
• Condemning human rights abuses and violations of IHL committed by the security forces and guerrilla groups.
• Calling on the authorities to order a full and impartial investigation into the threats against ACIN, CSPP, MOVICE, CUT and SINTRAUNICOL; and asking that they publish the results and bring those responsible to justice.