The Colombian national government admits there has been an increase in
violence among former paramilitaries following the extradition of 14
heads of demobilized paramilitary organization AUC.
According to Presidential adviser for integration Frank Pearl, there have been clashes over the control of assets and the command structure that has caused the increase of violence.
“We see that after the extradition the middle ranks and some structures that were below [the demobilized leaders] are regrouping. This regrouping may implicate they are fighting over the means and the power,” Pearl told Caracol radio.
Pearl said however the increase in violence is caused only by a small minority of the demobilized that are currently taking part in reintegration programs.
Murder rates in Colombia’s second largest city Medellín and in the departments of Chocó and Córdoba have rocketed after the demobilized leaders of the AUC were extradited to the United States. Hundreds of demobilized paramilitaries have been murdered.
The nearly 17,000 members of the AUC officially demobilized in 2006 and 2007.