Support Colombian conscientious objectors

A/HRC/10/82

(...)

WRI's Colombian affiliate Red Juvenil reported a new round of
arbitrary recruitment in Medellin in October and November 2008.
'Batidas', the recruiting of youth on the street or public places if
they cannot show the right military papers, have been observed in
various places of Medellin, among others the main transport terminal in
the north of Medellin, several metro stations, the football stadium of
Medellin, and in several poorer neighbourhoods of the city (Comunas 2,
5, 6, 13).

An important legal victory for conscientious objectors in Colombia

The Working
Group on Arbitrary Detention declared in its Opinion No 8/2008 (Colombia) the practice of recruitment in the form of raids
(batidas), and the recruitment of conscientious objectors a form of "arbitrary detention". This is an important legal victory for conscientious objectors in Colombia, although the opinions of the Working Group are legally non-binding.

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention [1] declared in its Opinion No 8/2008 (Colombia) the practice of recruitment in the form of raids (batidas), and the recruitment of conscientious objectors a form of “arbitrary detention”.

Barrancabermeja is a geostrategically important city, the capital of Magdalena Medio, a region with immense natural resources, petrol, mines and the river Magdalena. Along with macroprojects such as African palm, rubber and cocoa, great tracts of lands are used for illegal cultivation making this a territory disputed by narcotraffic mafias, landowners, and national and multinational big business. For years, they have been trying to gain possession of the land, sowing terror and death through the action of paramilitary groups.

Colombian conscientious objector and activist, Julian Ovalle will talk about the political situation, the recruitment practice of the different armed groups, and the work of the movement for conscientious objection in Colombia.

Death threats against WRI affiliate Red Juvenil after successful 'Antimili Sonoro XIV'

It does not happen often that we have good news to report from Colombia, but this month we do (among quite a bit of bad news - but the good news first). Two months ago, two Colombian conscientious objectors who had been illegally recruited in January and February have been released from the military, albeit without any acknowledgement of the right to conscientious objection.

Diego Alexander Pulgarin was recruited on 5 January in the northern bus terminal of Medellin.

Communication addressed to the Government on 5 October 2007.

Concerning Mr. Frank Yair Estrada Marin, Mr. Carlos Andrés Giraldo Hincapié and Mr. Alejandro de Jesús González Duque.

The State is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

1. El derecho a la objeción de conciencia en el ley colombiano

Articulo 18 de la Constitución Política dice:

Se garantiza la libertad de conciencia.

Flash presentation

Click to start or advance to the next slide

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR'S COLLECTIVE ACTION

You say you know Colombia very well. What about Bogotá?

I know Bogotá very well, but the problem is not just Bogotá...first of all, Bogotá has to be cleaned out of all militia. And in Cundinamarca the work localized in regions where there is influence of illegal armed groups needs to be consolidated. That way, Cundinamarca can become a model region. In short terms, guerrillas, paramilitaries and drug dealers need to be out.

The approach would solve it all.

El comunicado No. 0066 0066 / DICOR-Z4-DIM 27-S1-155 del ejército nacional expedida en el año 2006 solicita la colaboración de los rectores de instituciones universitarias para dar cumplimiento a la Ley 48 de 1993, para lo cual, entre otras indicaciones, instruye sobre la obligación de presentar la tarjeta de reservista o provisional militar para "matricularse por primera vez en cualquier centro docente de educación superior", citando inadecuadamente el artículo 36 de la Ley 48 de 1993, como veremos más adelante.