Of the 4.9 million Colombians that have been forcefully displaced in the last 25 years, 2.4 million were displaced under the presidency of Alvaro Uribe and his "Democratic Security" policy, according to a recently published report.
The report, published by Codhes, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the study of Colombia's armed conflict, was released on Wednesday at a press conference aimed at analyzing Uribe's "Democratic Security" policy, which has been a focal point of his presidency.
At the press conference, the director of Codhes, Jorge Enrique Rojas, claimed that in 2009 alone, "about 286,389 people were displaced," reported Colombian newspaper El Espectador.
2009 saw a 24% drop in the amount of displaced Colombians compared to the 2008 record high of 380,863 people forcibly displaced.
While this represents an improvement, it still indicates a grave situation facing Colombia today, Rojas went on to explain, "clearly there is progress in some sectors of society, but not for the entire population, which calls into question the entire policy of 'Democratic Security'."
According to the report, the Colombian departments most affected have been Choco, Nariño, Antioquia, Cordoba, Cauca, Arauca, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Bolívar, Cesar, Meta and Guajira.
Nariño, the report went on to explain, has seen the worst of it, "registering 56% of the total amount of mass displacement events."
The department of Nariño is located on the boarder with Ecuador, and is home to the majority of Colombia's indigenous communities. It is the area most affected by Colombia's internal conflict, and has been the host to constant battles between the Colombian military and the FARC rebels.
The "Democratic Security" policy, implemented in 2003, has operated under the objectives of: widening the territory under the direct control of the central government and denying access of land to illegally armed groups; protecting population centers with the presence of security forces; and dismantling the flow of drugs and cutting down on revenues used to support illegally armed groups.
While much has been accomplished under the policy, many critics and opponents argue that it has ignored the social costs incurred through its application, and exposes Colombian civilians to danger and other human rights abuses, such as the forced displacement, as cited by the Codhes report.
gringomedellim
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... wonder what caused the raise in 2008 was this due to the FARC being pushed further south? A vacuum when drug lords/rings busted? 2009 saw a 24% drop why? The "Democratic Security" policy, implemented in 2003, has operated under the objectives of: widening the territory under the direct control of the central government and denying access of land to illegally armed groups; protecting population centers with the presence of security forces; and dismantling the flow of drugs and cutting down on revenues used to support illegally armed groups. With any conclict there is a social cost does that mean Colombia sould let illegal armed groups to control the parts of the country this seem to be what Codhes is suggesting, it seems to want to place the total blame on Uribe and Democratic Security while placing no blame on the FARC,ELN,ELP and other ilegal armed groups. People fail to understand if the country is not secure then economic growth doesn't happen, new jopb are no created. Is Democratic Security prefect by no means but it has freed many parts of the country returnin gto the control of the government and not illegal armed groups like in 2002 when Uribe was elected and 2003 when Democratic Security was put into action. so Codges and others can critcize all they want they have yet to offer a better alternative to securing the country other then sit and do nothing. |
Adriaan
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... @ Gringomedellin, I don't Codhes is suggesting anything. They are just doing what they are good at and that is showing what the social cost is, so it can be taken into consideration. The blame of the displacement lies primarily with paramilitary and guerrilla groups, who use displacement as a tactic. In numbers I received from Medellin's ombudsman's office only in 5 or so percent of the cases the people say the State displaced them. However, while the blame lies with the FARC etc., the responsibility for these displaced lies with the State. It is not the illegal armed groups that need to take care of the country's war victims, but the State and the State must take the real social cost in consideration so it can improve its policies. So, instead of criticizing organization who inconveniently show the huge social cost of the conflict, how about we start taking care of the displaced? |
gringomedellim
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... @adrain maybe it is how the story was written that one walks away that Codhes is blaming only Uribe and Democratic Security as the cause of displaced, and that Codhes fails to understand that in conflict there is a scocial cost, Yes it would be nice if the Government could care more for victims of the conflict , but we both know that with limited funds security comes first and caring for the victims second, which also from the story Codhes fails to understand. but then maybe instead of blaming Uribe they should devote their efforts to raising money and taking on the role of helping the victims of conflict instead of whining about it. |
