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DATE=4/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248194
TITLE=COLOMBIA RIGHTS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS REPORT ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN 
COLOMBIA PRESENTS A PICTURE OF A LAWLESS SOCIETY WHERE VIOLENCE, 
CORRUPTION AND DRUG TRAFFICKING ARE HAVING A DISASTROUS EFFECT ON
THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.   THE 
REPORT HAS JUST BEEN SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW BY THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION, NOW MEETING IN GENEVA.  LISA SCHLEIN HAS DETAILS.
TEXT:  U-N HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF, MARY ROBINSON, SAYS COLOMBIA'S 
RECORD HAS WORSENED OVER THE PAST YEAR.  HER REPORT PRESENTED TO 
THE U-N COMMISSION SPEAKS OF SYSTEMATIC HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, 
RANGING FROM MASSACRES TO SO-CALLED "SOCIAL CLEANSING" OF STREET 
CHILDREN.  IT SAYS MASSACRES, EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS, TORTURE, 
FORCED DISAPPEARANCES AND FORCED DISPLACEMENTS HAPPENED 
SYSTEMATICALLY THROUGHOUT 1998.
MS. ROBINSON -- WHO VISITED COLOMBIA IN OCTOBER -- SAYS THERE 
WERE NUMEROUS CASES OF MURDER, OF POLITICAL EXECUTIONS AND OF 
PEOPLE BEING EXECUTED INDISCRIMINATELY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND 
OTHERS FOR PURPOSES OF INTIMIDATION.
                       ///ROBINSON ACT/// 
         RECENTLY, WE HAVE LEARNED OF ATTACKS ON PEACE 
         COMMUNITIES INHABITED MAINLY BY INTERNALLY DISPLACED, 
         ATTACKS ON INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES SELF-DECLARED AS 
         NEUTRAL, THREATS AND ATTACKS AGAINST ENTIRE POPULATIONS 
         CAUSING MASSIVE DISPLACEMENT AND THE CONTINUOUS 
         KIDNAPING OF CIVILIANS, INCLUDING MINORS, AS WAS THE 
         CASE WITH AN AIRPLANE DETOURED ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO, 
         ALLEGEDLY BY THE GUERRILLAS.
                         ///END ACT/// 
MS. ROBINSON SAYS THE WORST HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES ARE OFTEN CARRIED
OUT BY PARAMILITARY GROUPS.  BUT, SHE SAYS THESE GROUPS OFTEN 
WORK IN COLLUSION WITH COLOMBIA'S SECURITY FORCES AND NOTHING IS 
BEING DONE TO STOP THEM.  SHE POINTS TO, WHAT SHE CALLS, AN 
"INSANE SOCIAL CLEANSING CAMPAIGN" WHERE SOCIALLY STIGMATIZED 
PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY STREET CHILDREN, ARE EXECUTED "BASED ON 
PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION."  SHE SAYS SHE EXPRESSED HER 
CONCERNS TO COLOMBIAN AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE NUMEROUS ATTACKS 
AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, TRADE-UNION AND COMMUNITY 
LEADERS.
                   ///SECOND ROBINSON ACT/// 
         I WAS, AND CONTINUE TO BE, DEEPLY IMPRESSED BY THE 
         COURAGE AND COMMITMENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS 
         WHOM I MET AT A SEMINAR DURING MY VISIT.  THAT COURAGE 
         IS NECESSARY, AS I LEARNED SADLY FROM COLOMBIAN N-G-O'S 
         (NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS) EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT 
         SINCE THEN, SEVEN MORE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS HAVE BEEN 
         MURDERED.
                         ///END ACT/// 
U-N HUMAN RIGHTS HIGH COMMISSIONER MARY ROBINSON URGES COLOMBIA'S
GOVERNMENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO PUNISH THOSE WHO COMMIT HUMAN 
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.  SHE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE STEPS TO 
PROTECT INNOCENT CIVILIANS.  SHE SAYS SHE REGRETS THAT PEACE 
TALKS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND REBELS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED AND 
CALLS FOR THEIR QUICK RESUMPTION. (SIGNED) 
NEB/LS/PCF 
16-Apr-99 9:19 AM EDT (1319 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.