Article by PBI-Canada

On January 12, PBI-Colombia tweeted: “Finding of a lifeless body and explosions of devices, says our accompanied organization CAHUCOPANA [the Humanitarian Action Corporation for Coexistence and Peace in Northeast Antioquia] and appeals to the principle of distinction between armed actors and the civilian population.”

That organization’s statement notes: “CAHUCOPANA, on January 7, 2021, reported the discovery of the lifeless body of a young inhabitant of the Panamá Nueve neighborhood, with several gunshot wounds. To date the authorities have not made a statement, nor have those responsible been identified.”

It continues: “[Then] on January 8 at approximately 10:30 am, in the town of Carrizal in the jurisdiction of the municipality of Remedios, a loud explosion was heard on a high-traffic highway through the community which leads from the town center… The information provided by the population gives an account of allegedly three wounded soldiers.”

CAHUCOPANA concludes: “We reiterate our call to the armed actors to respect and comply with international humanitarian law, appealing to the principle of distinction, in order to guarantee the protection of the human rights of the civilian population, excluding ourselves from any act of violence that puts our lives and personal integrity at risk.”

PBI-Colombia has previously explained: “The Northeast Antioquia region has been experiencing systematic violence for many years. Local communities have suffered massacres, bombings and blockades that prevented the entry of food and medicine, imposed by illegal armed actors and the National Army.”

And it notes: “A crosscutting component of CAHUCOPANA’s work is the denunciation of human rights violations by all the armed actors, and by private companies with operations [notably large-scale commercial mining projects] in the region.”

Cristy Lozano of CAHUCOPANA says: “PBI’s international accompaniment is an important shield, not only for us, but also for the peasants where the Army and paramilitaries are present, and at one time, the FARC.”

She adds: “PBI also helps us with advocacy. We are not alone: there are people who care about us, and this is clearly visible at the international and national levels.”

PBI-Colombia has accompanied CAHUCOPANA since 2013.