Monday 5 March 2012

We condemn the threats against the Ruta Pacifica


On February 28, the Ruta Pacifica de Las Mujeres in Colombia received a message announces a death sentence for those who continue to insist on the restitution of land to those who have been displaced by the war.

Ruta Pacifica published the following statement condemning the threats.
Ruta Pacifica de las Mujeres rejects and demands an investigation of the threat declared against Ruta Pacifica by the self-styled “Aguilas Negras -- Bloque Capital D.C.”, which was received in our headquarters in an open and unmarked envelope on Tuesday, 28 February 2012.

It seems ironic that at almost the same time, the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations was giving a report on the human rights situation in Colombia in which it is noted “…has observed that the risk and vulnerability of the leaders in negotiations for restitution of lands are extremely high, having noted criminal interests in the lands under consideration for
restitution…”, ironic that at this time we should be receiving these threats in
which, in addition to the Ruta, also appear names of feminist organizations like
the Casa de la Mujer and Sisma, and other organizations composed of both men and women; furthermore, 15 individuals have been directly threatened, among them 12 women, one of whom is the Delegate to the Office of the Public Defender (Ombudsman) for the rights of children, young people.

The pamphlet is clearly directed at women defenders of human rights who are
working on restitution of land inasmuch as it reads “…stop screwing around with restitution of lands because anyone who is involved in this proceeding will be assassinated by us, no matter how protected they might be, and we give them 30 days to leave the city.”

We join the call made by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia reiterating “the need to adopt integral measures for protection that include solid analysis of the risk, in which the victims can participate…” and also in that “the measures for protection must be improved, for example, including in practice a differential gender focus, as well as strengthening the appropriate local institutions.”

We call on the organizations that are defenders of human rights, political parties, the international community and the regional, national and international media to the end that social and political pressure will contribute to making these facts known, rejected and sanctioned; and let us guarantee among all the enforceability of the right to Truth, Justice and Reparation as a demand in the face of the historical violence of which the women in Colombia have been victims.


The group Aguilas Negras is a re-formation of the paramilitary group Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), supposedly demobilised in the scandalous amnesty in favour of paramilitary groups in support of the law erroneously named "Justice and Peace", adopted in 2005.

Threats from such a group must be taken seriously and we call on our diplomatic representatives in Colombia to immediately take action to ensure that Colombian authorities act with determination against the so-called "Aguilas Negras", not only to avoid that what has been threatened becomes reality, but to make sure that these unacceptable crimes are prosecuted with truth, justice, and reparation.

We will not give up our aspiration to live in a world free of war, fear and violence