Labelled as guerrilla supporters by the security forces and their paramilitary allies; exposed to retaliation at the hands of armed opposition groups; abandoned by state institutions and the international community: the inhabitants of San Vicente del Caguán and of what was once known as the demilitarized zone are facing increasing levels of violence and human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict.
In a new report published last week, Amnesty International highlights the plight of the civilian population living in the area which hosted peace talks between the Colombian government and the country's largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The area was under effective FARC control for over three years, from October 1998 to February 2002, after the army withdrew from it as a precondition for peace negotiations to begin.
"The communities living in the demilitarized zone were never consulted about its creation and had no choice but to coexist with the FARC. Now, because of this coexistence, they are being stigmatized as guerrilla sympathizers and face serious risk of human rights violations," Amnesty International said.
"The people of the former demilitarized zone are effectively trapped in a no-man's land where the state authorities have abdicated their responsibilities to protect their citizens, and where civilian communities are vulnerable to abuses from both sides of the conflict as they implement strategies to secure control of the area," the organization added, noting how the level of political violence in the area has risen after the collapse of the peace process.
In a new report published last week, Amnesty International highlights the plight of the civilian population living in the area which hosted peace talks between the Colombian government and the country's largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The area was under effective FARC control for over three years, from October 1998 to February 2002, after the army withdrew from it as a precondition for peace negotiations to begin.
"The communities living in the demilitarized zone were never consulted about its creation and had no choice but to coexist with the FARC. Now, because of this coexistence, they are being stigmatized as guerrilla sympathizers and face serious risk of human rights violations," Amnesty International said.
"The people of the former demilitarized zone are effectively trapped in a no-man's land where the state authorities have abdicated their responsibilities to protect their citizens, and where civilian communities are vulnerable to abuses from both sides of the conflict as they implement strategies to secure control of the area," the organization added, noting how the level of political violence in the area has risen after the collapse of the peace process.