The Huffington Post
UN Warns of "Rising Intimidation" In Colombia While Colombian Government Turns To Intimidating U.S. & British Activists
Jun 03 -- The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed grave concern over "a recent wave of death threats against human rights workers and social activists, including displaced leaders working to defend their communities' rights".
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See, UNHCR Statement. According to the UNHCR, these recent threats, made by a new armed group against both civil and human rights organizations "come amid a climate of rising intimidation, originating from various armed groups, in recent months. Indigenous communities, social leaders and representatives of displaced people have all been targeted, putting at risk their right to life, freedom of expression and participation in public life."
One group of social leaders particularly targeted in Colombia -- trade union leaders -- are under increased attack in Colombia, with 19 union leaders killed already this year. Most embarassing to the Colombian government is the fact that, just last week, the Attorney General of Colombia has accused the former head of the Colombian DAS -- the analogue to the U.S. FBI and an organization tasked to protect union and social leaders under threat -- of being complicit with right-wing paramilitary groups in the murder of 4 social leaders, including one union leader. See, Story.
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