A/HRC/4/48 page 19 90. Although the security forces have arrested more than 900 demobilized fighters for engaging in criminal activities, the growth in the size of these new illegal armed groups, the steady increase in their economic and military power, and their growing control over certain regions of the country demand drastic enforcement of the law against them.17 In some regions, such as Nariño or southern Cesar, situations have arisen that indicate clear links between members of the security forces and the new illegal groups. In spite of the evidence of such links, no preventive suspensions, investigations or sanctions are known to have been ordered. 91. In the face of this situation, the security forces are making efforts to cover the rural areas that the paramilitary groups have left. However, the increase in numbers, the transfer of units from other regions and the installation of 139 rural police stations in areas formerly under paramilitary influence18 have failed to prevent the incursion of the FARC-EP into such regions, where they have been held responsible for murders, threats and displacements. Security forces 92. All military and police units continued to make substantial efforts to train their members in human rights and IHL. However, these initiatives did not prevent some members of the security forces from stigmatizing the rural civilian population as willing collaborators with the subversive groups. This attitude gave rise to serious breaches of IHL, which helped to create a climate of risk and extreme vulnerability for civilians. 93. There were several reports of murders of protected persons, responsibility for which was attributed to army personnel, particularly Antioquia, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Cesar and Guajira. There were also reports of threats against civilians attributed to army personnel in Norte de Santander, Antioquia, Putumayo and Bolívar. 94. The OHCHR Office obtained information regarding attacks by army personnel against civilians in clashes in Cauca. 95. There were also reports of acts of sexual violence attributed to members of the security forces in Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Valle and Nariño. 96. The Office received reports of cases of failure to observe the humanitarian principle of differentiation by members of the security forces, particularly the army, in Cauca, Chocó, Putumayo and Valle. 17 By way of example, the decisive actions by the security forces against the new group operating in Montelíbano (Córdoba) are worthy of note. 18 Speech by the Minister of Defence on the occasion of the first 100 days of Uribe’s second term, 15 November 2006.