Colombia: violence escalates in Chocó, Putumayo and Arauca, affecting civilians

In his most recent report on Colombia, the UN Secretary-General acknowledged the efforts of the government, state institutions, ex-combatants and national communities to follow the path set out in the country's final peace agreement and warned of the risks to peacebuilding.

The UN Verification Mission in Colombia published this week António Guterres' assessment of the progress and challenges in the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement during the period from 28 December 2021 to 25 March 2022.

The text highlights the progress made in the reincorporation of ex-combatants, the substitution of illicit crops, transitional justice and development opportunities in communities affected by the conflict, but warns that this progress "will remain vulnerable unless firm and effective steps are taken to consolidate security throughout the country in the comprehensive manner envisaged in the Final Agreement".

Among the main advances, the document underlines that most of the more than 13,000 ex-combatants continue their process of reincorporation into civilian life despite the worsening security situation in several regions and that 63% are involved in productive projects for their economic reincorporation.

Regarding political reintegration, it reports that there were few incidents during the recent congressional elections, in which FARC-EP ex-combatants participated by voting.
Notwithstanding these important advances, the UN official reiterated his concern for the security of former FARC-EP members and recalled that 315 of them have been killed since the signing of the Agreement. Eleven of these crimes occurred in the last quarter.

Likewise, it pointed out that the deterioration of security has an increasing impact on productive projects and cooperatives, and therefore urged the government to guarantee the security of these people both in the former Training and Reincorporation Spaces and in the new reincorporation areas, as well as calling for the specific risks and needs of female ex-combatants to be adequately addressed.

The Secretary-General also reported that levels of violence have intensified in the departments of Chocó, Putumayo and Arauca as a result of clashes between the National Liberation Army and FARC-EP dissidents.

This violence affects the civilian population, including indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, he said.

"The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs registered more than 13,000 forcibly displaced persons, and more than 48,000 people confined between 1 January and 15 March. For its part, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights received information on the murders of 43 human rights defenders and social leaders, including four women, (seven documented, 35 in the process of verification and one inconclusive or unverifiable)," he said.

In this sense, he considered that the full implementation of the security guarantees stipulated in the Agreement is urgent in order to reinforce prevention and protection measures by the authorities.

In addition, he argued that putting an end to insecurity requires the integrated deployment of state capacities and the dismantling of illegal armed groups and criminal organisations that operate in poor regions where there is an illicit economy and where state authorities do not have effective control of the territory.

The Secretary General cited Colombians' hopes in the Final Peace Agreement's promises of development, reconciliation and non-repetition and affirmed that the long-term success of the process will depend "on strengthening trust between the parties, as well as between citizens and institutions through their sustained commitment and coordinated efforts".

António Guterres also said that this year marks a turning point for the transitional justice system "by shedding light on the horrors of the past".

"While the Unit for the Search for Missing Persons continues to provide comfort to hundreds of families of the disappeared, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace is preparing for the perpetrators to acknowledge, face to face with the victims and Colombian society, their responsibilities for the crimes committed during the conflict and to contribute to the truth," he said.

With regard to the forthcoming publication of the Truth Commission's final report, he hoped that Colombian society would have "the strength and wisdom" to understand its painful history and lay the foundations for reconciliation and non-repetition on the basis of the document's recommendations.

"By agreeing to end decades of violent conflict, Colombians reaffirmed to the world that even the most entrenched conflicts can be resolved through dialogue. As the country continues on the path laid out by the Final Agreement, and with the presidential elections approaching, I encourage political forces to maintain their commitment to a campaign free of violence and stigmatisation and invite them to continue to channel their differences through institutional channels," concluded the Secretary General.