Colombia: Whether members of the Naval Infantry Jungle Battalion have engaged in human rights abuses, particularly in Putumayo (1980 - June 2003)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 23 June 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | COL41511.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Colombia: Whether members of the Naval Infantry Jungle Battalion have engaged in human rights abuses, particularly in Putumayo (1980 - June 2003), 23 June 2003, COL41511.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d7c15.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No mention of the Naval Infantry Jungle Battalion could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, several reports refer to two jungle battalions (batallones de selva) whose jurisdiction includes Putumayo: the 49th "Soldado Juan Bautista Solarte Obando" Jungle Battalion (Colombia n.d.; see also Stratfor n.d.; El Tiempo 27 Sept. 2000), based in La Tagua, near Puerto Lequízamo, Putumayo (El Colombiano 3 July 2002); and the 50th "General Luis Acevedo Torres" Jungle Battalion, based in Leticia, Amazonas (Colombia n.d.; see also Stratfor n.d.; El Tiempo 27 Sept. 2000). Both battalions fall under the command of the 24th Brigade, which in turn is attached to the army's 3rd Division, based in Cali (Stratfor n.d.).
On 22 June 2001, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) inflicted a significant defeat on the 49th Jungle Battalion (El Colombiano 3 July 2002). The FARC attack, which took place in La Tagua and reportedly involved 800 guerrillas, resulted in the killing of 33 soldiers, with another 19 injured (ibid.).
No specific information on whether members of the 49th or 50th Jungle Battalions have engaged in human rights abuses could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. A senior associate at the Center for International Policy (CIP), who has coordinated the organization's Colombian activities since 1997, indicated that, while victims of human rights violations by state security forces are "rarely" able to identify the specific unit to which the perpetrators belong, the 24th Brigade "does have a history of abuse" (3 June 2003).
In response to allegations of human rights abuses involving members of the 24th Brigade, the American ambassador to Colombia announced in September 2000 that the United States had barred the brigade from participation in its military assistance program (El Tiempo 27 Sept. 2000; CAJ Sept. 2000).
In September 2001, Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a report alleging a "close alliance" between the 24th Brigade and illegal paramilitary forces,
resulting in extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, and death threats. The Twenty-Fourth Brigade regularly coordinated actions with paramilitaries and allowed them to operate openly, and even established one of their principal bases within a short walk of an army installation.
On 6 June 2003, General Gabriel Ramón Díaz Ortiz, who had commanded the 24th Brigade in 2000 (ibid.), was removed from his position as head of the Barranquilla-based 2nd Brigade (Radio Caracol 7 June 2003; Semana n.d.). The United States had reportedly sought Díaz's dismissal, submitting evidence to the Colombian government documenting his alleged involvement with paramilitary groups and narcotics trafficking (ibid.; El Tiempo 15 June 2003).
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
Center for International Policy (CIP), Washington, DC. 3 June 2003. Correspondence from a senior associate.
Colombia. n.d. Ejército Nacional. "Vigésimacuarta Brigada." El Colombiano [Medellín]. 3 July 2002. "Ordenan detener a 5 jefes de las Farc por muerte de 33 militares." Comision Andina de Juristas (CAJ). September 2000. Cronología Andina. "Colombia-Septiembre 2000." Human Rights Watch (HRW). September 2001. The "Sixth Division": Military-Paramilitary Ties and U.S. Policy in Colombia. Radio Caracol [Bogotá]. 7 June 2003. "No quiero pensar que EEUU presionó mi salida." Semana [Bogotá]. n.d. No. 1102. "El general en su laberinto." Stratfor. n.d. "Colombian Army." El Tiempo [Bogotá]. 15 June 2003. Sergio Gómez Maseri. "E.U. presiona a Colombia para remover a generales involucrados en violaciones a derechos humanos." _____. 27 September 2000. Sergio Gómez Maseri. "E.U. suspende ayuda a dos brigadas del Ejército colombiano." Additional Sources Consulted
Comité Permanente por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, Bogotá
Consultoría para los Derechos Humanos y el Desplazamiento (CODHES), Bogotá
Inter-American Dialogue, Washington, DC
IRB databases
Jane's Intelligence Review [Surrey]. 1996-2003
Latin American Regional Reports: Andean Group Report (LARR) [London]. 1985-2003
World News Connection (WNC)
Internet sites, including:
El Colombiano [Medellín]. 2001-2003
Ejército Nacional
Radio Caracol [Bogotá]
Semana.com [Bogotá]