Since the breakdown in peace talks on 20 February 2002, the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office in San Vicente has recorded 17 politically-motivated killings, with 78 more being reported from the other four municipalities in the former demilitarized zone. Actual figures could be higher, but are hard to obtain due to the difficulties of gaining access to many rural areas.
Reports of human rights violations received from the area also include torture and ill-treatment at the hands of the security forces, repeated threats to civilian communities accused of siding either with the guerrilla or the armed forces, and the use of children as informers. The FARC continue to recruit children into their ranks.
Open confrontation in the area remains limited, and the two sides appear to be engaged in preliminary strategies to gather information and undermine support for the enemy among the local communities.
On the one hand, FARC action appears to be aimed at intimidating the civilian population into submission and making the area ungovernable through threats and harassment against local authorities. On the other, the security forces continue to label many law-abiding citizens as guerrilla collaborators thus putting them under threat of retaliation from the paramilitaries, who are increasing their presence in the other municipalities of the former demilitarized zone.
Reports of human rights violations received from the area also include torture and ill-treatment at the hands of the security forces, repeated threats to civilian communities accused of siding either with the guerrilla or the armed forces, and the use of children as informers. The FARC continue to recruit children into their ranks.
Open confrontation in the area remains limited, and the two sides appear to be engaged in preliminary strategies to gather information and undermine support for the enemy among the local communities.
On the one hand, FARC action appears to be aimed at intimidating the civilian population into submission and making the area ungovernable through threats and harassment against local authorities. On the other, the security forces continue to label many law-abiding citizens as guerrilla collaborators thus putting them under threat of retaliation from the paramilitaries, who are increasing their presence in the other municipalities of the former demilitarized zone.