The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemned the Colombian army and guerrillas for a recent clash in southwest Colombia.
The IACHR referred to a clash between the army and an unnamed illegal armed group on February 3, 2011, which took place near a school in the municipality of El Pedregal. One civilian was injured in the crossfire.
The IACHR states that the government should protect civilians in this municipality, as requested in a precautionary measure issued by the organization in August last year. The precautionary measure states that the residents of El Vergel and El Pedregal, in Cauca, are “in a situation of distress as a result of armed conflict and the lack of measures to protect civilians living in the area.” The measure continues by requesting Colombia to “to take the necessary measures to guarantee the life and physical integrity of the” residents of this area.
The IACHR also reports that civilians in this area have allegedly been threatened by members of the army and accused of collaborating with the guerrillas. Teachers at the school in El Pedregal also reported receiving threatening text messages signed by the illegal group Aguilas Negras.
The human rights watchdog requested that Colombia takes immediate action to protect the civilians who have been entangled in this conflict.
Newspaper El Liberal reported that there was a clash between the FARC’s 6th Squadron and the army’s 3rd Division on Febuary 3 in that region.