Colombia: The status and activities of the Popular Liberation Army (Ejercito Popular de Liberacion, EPL); whether the EPL uses extortion, kidnapping and violence to further their cause; whether authorities are successful in combating EPL initiatives (2002 - February 2003)

Although the Popular Liberation Army (Ejercito Popular de Liberacion, EPL) was reported to have disbanded in 1991 after an agreement with the government (El Tiempo 25 Dec. 2002), a contingent of approximately 500 members are still active (ibid.; AlertNet 2001).

A number of sources have reported on recent EPL activities, which include kidnapping (UNHCHR 28 Feb. 2002; Caracol TV 15 Feb. 2002; ibid. 20 Dec. 2002; Radio Caracol 31 Dec. 2002), planting land mines (El Espectador 3 Jan. 2002; EFE News Service 12 Feb. 2002) and attacking a town while trying to seize control of it (Caracol TV 21 Nov. 2002).

More specifically, an extensive report by the UNHCHR on the human rights situation in Colombia claimed that the EPL had kidnapped 20 persons between January and November 2001 (28 Feb. 2002). In a 15 February 2002 broadcast, Caracol TV reported the kidnapping and murder of Manizales resident Cristina Echeverry by the EPL. Caracol TV also reported the rescue of a 17-year old girl who was "held captive for eight days" in the Norte de Santander Department (20 Dec. 2002). The girl claimed she had been sexually abused by members of the EPL (Caracol TV 20 Dec. 2002).    

A radio broadcast in December 2002, using statistics from the organization Free Country Foundaton (Fundacion Pais Libre), noted that the EPL had kidnapped 33 persons in 2002 (Radio Caracol 31 Dec. 2002). El Espectador reported that of the 121 areas guerrillas had planted with land mines in 2001, one was planted by the EPL (3 Jan. 2002). Moreover, EFE News Services noted that guerrilla groups-including the EPL-had planted anti-personnel land mines along the roads leading to the municipality of Teorama in the Norte de Santander province, allegedly to defend citizens in the town from the paramilitaries (12 Feb. 2002). And, in a 21 November 2002 broadcast, Caracol TV reported a joint attack by the EPL and National Liberation Army (Ejercito Liberacion Nacional, ELN) on the town of Hacari. The guerrillas used gas cylinder bombs in the attack and injured one woman when, 30 policemen reportedly "fought them off", countering the guerrilla attack (Caracol TV 21 Nov. 2002).

The following provides information on the authorities' efforts to control EPL activities.

Caracol TV reported the arrest of EPL member Alirio de Jesus Tapasco in Quinchia, Risaralda Department, who was "accused of extortion and terrorism," as well as kidnapping and murdering Cristina Echeverry (6 Mar. 2002). In a report of April 2002, the Andean Commission of Jurists (Comision Andina de Juristas, CAJ) stated that the Military Forces (Fuerzas Militares) had killed 2 EPL members during the period of 1 January to 31 March 2002 (CAJPE 3 Apr. 2002). According to the Colombia Military Forces Website, the Army killed an EPL leader of the Ramon Gilberto Barbosa Front (Frente) in Charta, Santander, and captured the second leader (segundo jefe) (Colombia 7 June 2002). In a 20 September 2002 broadcast, Caracol TV reported that the military had launched a military offensive against guerrillas in the departments of Cundinamarca, Antioquia and Norte de Santander, which resulted in the deaths of five members of the EPL. El Tiempo reported that the Army killed five members of the EPL while they were attempting to set up an illegal roadblock on a highway near the capital of Santander as a means of kidnapping travelling motorists (25 Dec. 2002). In addition to killing the EPL members, the Army seized five rifles, provisions and land mines from the EPL (ibid.). More recently, a 6 January 2003 Europa Press article reported the arrest of an important leader of the EPL in the northeastern department of Santander.  

The following reports outline government initiatives to reduce guerrilla activity.

In an article of 27 June 2002, El Espectador noted the desertion of "a total of 967 guerrillas from several organizations," one of which was the EPL. Authorities attribute the desertions to the "Program of Humanitarian Attention to the Demobilized," a government plan that began in 1999 and provides "humanitarian assistance to rebels who cast aside their weapons" (El Espectador 27 June 2002).

According to El Pais, the government-sponsored Citizen's Security Network, also know as the Informer's Network, has helped to reduce kidnappings in the northern part of the country (9 Oct. 2002). The Network enables citizens to report "any unusual activity on the highways" where the majority of kidnappings take place (El Pais 9 Oct. 2002). Apparently, the Network has been effective in preventing kidnapping; however, according to Senator Antonio Navarro Wolff, "'it is much too early to pass judgement'" on the Network's success in decreasing kidnapping (ibid.).

Please refer to Country Reports 2001 (Sections 1a and 1g) for a general overview of the situation of guerrilla groups in Colombia at .

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

AlertNet. 2001. "Country Profile. Colombia: Military Statistics." [Accessed 12 Feb. 2003]

Caracol TV [Bogota, in Spanish]. 20 December 2002. "Program Summary: Caracol TV Spanish 0000 GMT 20 Dec BOG 02--267." (FBIS-LAT-2002-1220 20 Dec. 2002/WNC)

____. 21 November 2002. "Program Summary: Caracol TV Spanish 0000 GMT 21 Nov BOG 02--246--PHOTOS." (FBIS-LAT-2002-1121 21 Nov. 2002/WNC)

____. 20 September 2002. "Program Summary: Caracol TV Spanish 0000 GMT 20 Sep BOG 02--202." (FBIS-LAT-2002-0919 20 Sept. 2002/WNC)

____. 6 March 2002. "Program Summary: Caracol TV Spanish 0000 GMT 06 Mar BOG 02--059." (FBIS-LAT-2002-0306 6 Mar. 2002/WNC)

____. 15 February 2002. "Program Summary: Caracol TV BOG 02--047." (FBIS-LAT-2002-0215 15 Feb. 2002/WNC)

Colombia. 7 June 2002. Fuerzas Militares de Colombia. "Muerto Jefe del EPL." [Accessed 14 Feb. 2003]

Comision Andina de Juristas (CAJ). 3 April 2002. "Colombia: 2002/04/03." [Accessed 12 Feb. 2003]

EFE News Service. 12 February 2002. "Colombia-Terrorism Colombian Rebels Blockade a Town With Anti-Personnel Land Mines." (NEXIS)

El Espectador [Bogota, in Spanish, Internet version]. 27 June 2002. "Colombia: Nearly 1,000 Guerrillas Desert Since 1999." (FBIS-LAT-2002-0627 27 June 2002/WNC)

____. 3 January 2002. "Minefields Quadruple in Colombia." (FBIS-LAT-2002-0103 3 Jan. 2002/WNC)

El Pais [Cali, in Spanish, Internet version]. 9 October 2002. "Kidnappings Down in North Following Informers Network Implementation." (FBIS-LAT-2002-1009 9 Oct. 2002/WNC)

El Tiempo [Bogota]. 25 December 2002. "Mueren cinco guerrilleros de la disidencia del Ejercito Popular de Liberacion (EPL) que intentaban efectuar un reten ilegal." [Accessed 14 Feb. 2003]

Europa Press. 6 January 2003. "Colombia: El ELN asesina a cuatro miembros de una familia mientras el Ejercito arresta a un jefe del EPL." [Accessed 12 Feb. 2003]

Radio Caracol [Bogota]. 31 December 2002. "Las FARC es el grupo que mas secuestra en Colombia." [Accessed 12 Feb. 2003]

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR). 28 February 2002. Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, on the Human Rights Situation in Colombia. (E/CN.4/2002/17) [Accessed 14 Feb. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

World News Connection (WNC)

Search engine:

Google