A/HRC/4/48
page 37
82.
It was reported that, in Samaniego (Nariño) on 25 September, troops of No. 14 Mobile
Brigade from 92 Battalion had sexually abused women whom they were searching on the pretext
of looking for money. A complaint was also received that on 19 November a soldier from the
San Mateo Battalion had sexually abused two girls, aged 11 and 7, from the Nasa-Paes ethnic
group. This occurred in the rural area of Florida (Valle del Cauca).
I. Use of anti-personnel mines
83.
The Office received reports of the continuing use of anti-personnel mines by illegal
armed groups, especially the FARC-EP and the ELN.
84.
In Orito (Putumayo) towards the end of December 2005 and in early January 2006,
members of the FARC-EP planted mines in the vicinity of a school. In Fortul (Arauca) on
6 February, a 77-year-old peasant was killed by a mine planted by members of the same group in
the village of Caño Flores. In Samaná (Caldas) on 22 July, a 16-year-old boy trod on a mine
near his house; he died from his wounds on 30 August.
85.
Several cases were also reported of members of the ELN engaged in planting
anti-personnel mines. On 27 and 28 October, mines planted by members of this guerrilla group
caused the death of one girl and wounded seven other people in Cumbitara, Los Andes, and
Samaniego (Nariño).
86.
Members of ethnic groups were also among the victims of anti-personnel mines. For
example, in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Magdalena) on 6 March, two members of the
Kogui indigenous community died after wandering into a field that had been mined, probably by
the FARC-EP.
J. Restrictions on freedom of movement and on the supply
of food and medicines to the civilian population
87.
Complaints were also received by the Office regarding arbitrary restrictions imposed by
army personnel on individual freedom. On 12 July in Ricaurte (Nariño), members of
No. 3 Mechanized Cavalry Group “José María Cabal” allegedly seized over 100 people from the
village of Cumbas. They were held in a school for three days, during which they were supplied
with only a limited amount of food.
88.
The civilian population has been seriously affected by clashes between illegal armed
groups. In February, in several villages within the municipality of Los Andes (Nariño), fighting
between FARC-EP guerrillas and AC-ONG paramilitaries led to the complete isolation of the
inhabitants, since for several days the warring groups did not allow them access to medicines or
food. In the same fighting, six civilians were wounded, and several houses and a school were
damaged.
89.
In the course of armed strikes organized by the FARC-EP in the departments of Arauca,
Caquetá and Putumayo as from February, the guerrillas prohibited the entry of basic products
required for survival.
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