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Colombia

Colombia: Voices of the displaced in Pasto

On May 13, 2006 thousands of civilians of the Policarpa region of the department of Narino participated in a peaceful demonstration against the Uribe government and its policies. According to testimonies gathered by Refugees International, the demonstrators were attending the protest under duress, as they had been threatened by the guerrillas should they refuse to join the march. Some of them were originally from the regions of Sanchez and Santa Rosa and had previously fled their homes because of the violence associated with the fumigation of coca crops. The government's public forces, assisted by paramilitary groups still operating in the area, intervened extremely violently to disperse the demonstrators. The roads were also blocked and the demonstrators had to flee to the southern city of Pasto. According to the State's ombudsman's office in Narino, at least one person was killed, while several disappeared and more than 200 were wounded, including at least 50 from gunshot bullets and serious traumas. Refugees International has seen video footage of beatings, and looting and destruction of the demonstrators' personal property, including their identification papers.
On May 18th, more than 3,500 persons sought refuge in the city of Pasto. Most of them returned home a few days later, as they were in a state of complete destitution in Pasto. Indeed, the government agency responsible for assisting the internally displaced, Accion Social, refused to help these people, calling them "political demonstrators against the government", and refusing to take into account the fact that many, if not most, had left their homes under duress. Moreover, paramilitary groups threatened to kill any person returning without proper identification, and as many of the demonstrators had their papers stolen or destroyed during the march, they were directly at risk. Nonetheless, despite the security problems and vocal denunciation by international organizations, the return process took place, and only the most vulnerable of the group remained in Pasto, with only the local Church to assist them.

Enrique and Marta are amongst those who stayed. When Refugees International met with them, they had been living in the church shelter for almost a month. "We had just been in Sanchez for 6 weeks, living in my brother's house, when the guerrillas came and told Enrique to go to the demonstration," Marta told RI. Afraid of possible retaliation should Enrique not participate to the demonstration, they left their eight-year-old twins, Marco and Lucia, with the neighbor. When RI met with Marta and her husband, the couple had not seen or heard of their children in almost a month. "All I want is to go and get my children," Marta told RI. "But we are scared to go back, and the trip is very expensive. We don't know what to do, except cry." Deemed too insecure, the couple's region of origin remained off limits for international organizations throughout the month of June, leaving Marta and Enrique with no hope of being reunited with their children anytime soon.

Marta and Enrique's identification papers were destroyed during the demonstration. Moreover, illegal armed groups killed Marta's brother shortly after the demonstration and the couple feared that they will be next should they go home. In the meantime, they remained in the church shelter in Pasto, hoping to receive assistance from the government and be recognized as internally displaced according to Colombian national law.

On June 28th, RI learned that their request has been denied, and that they will not be entitled to receiving any kind of assistance or protection from the government. Marta and Enrique are now faced with the impossible choice of returning to a dangerous area to get their children back, or remain in Pasto, with the church for their sole support.