Bogotá - Four months into Álvaro Uribe’s presidency, it is already clear that the measures included in his "democratic security" doctrine threaten to weaken the rule of law and the human rights of all Colombians, said Javier Zúñiga, Amnesty International’s Director of Strategy, today.
The statement was made in Bogotá today as the organization released a new report on the human rights consequences of the Uribe government’s security policies.
"The frustration of Colombian society at the failure of the peace negotiations and at the worsening of the conflict is understandable, as are its repeated calls for protection in the face of the violent action of armed groups - which have never been heeded," said Zúñiga.
Undoubtedly, the Colombian government has the right and the duty to guarantee the security of its citizens. And undoubtedly, Colombia is facing an extremely difficult situation due to the action of armed groups refusing to respect international humanitarian law and to acknowledge the right of the civilian population to stay out of the hostilities.
The statement was made in Bogotá today as the organization released a new report on the human rights consequences of the Uribe government’s security policies.
"The frustration of Colombian society at the failure of the peace negotiations and at the worsening of the conflict is understandable, as are its repeated calls for protection in the face of the violent action of armed groups - which have never been heeded," said Zúñiga.
Undoubtedly, the Colombian government has the right and the duty to guarantee the security of its citizens. And undoubtedly, Colombia is facing an extremely difficult situation due to the action of armed groups refusing to respect international humanitarian law and to acknowledge the right of the civilian population to stay out of the hostilities.