April 5th, 2000
The COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK condemns the outrageous and inhumane attack by guerrillas of Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) against the communities of Vigia del Fuerte (Antioquia) and Bellavista (Choco) on March 25 and 26, 2000. We deplore the utter lack of concern for civilian non-combatants, which resulted in the death of nine civilians and 21 policemen and destruction of 25 private residences, the parish church, the city hall and the police station in Vigia del Fuerte and injuries to 3 persons and destruction of the Agrarian Bank, the city hall, a private residence, a court building and the police station in Bellavista.
We call upon FARC to end immediately the use of exploding gas cannisters, which expose non-combatant civilians to terrible risks and the effects of which can not be foretold nor controlled. What class of revolutionaries is this which uses tactics that clearly target innocent civilians ?
We join with Colombian non-governmental organizations and the Catholic Church in calling upon all combatants to obey the requirements of International Humanitarian Law and to protect and refrain from targeting the civilian population.
The Colombian people have demonstrated their desire for peace. We call upon the FARC and the Colombian government to devote their efforts to a negotiated peace. We call upon the Colombian army to oppose paramilitary violence and to protect civilians who find themselves in harm's way.
CSN Board of Directors
Madison, Wisconsin, USA