February 3, 2010

Paramilitaries’ Heirs

The New Face of Violence in Colombia

Glossary
Map of Colombia
I. Summary and Recommendations
The Successor Groups: A Predictable Outcome of a Flawed Demobilization
The Human Rights and Humanitarian Impact of the Successor Groups
Colombia’s Obligations
State Response
Recommendations
II. Methodology
II. The Successor Groups: A Predictable Outcome of a Flawed Demobilization
A Fundamentally Flawed Demobilization
Failure to Verify Who Was Demobilizing
Failure to Dismantle Paramilitaries’ Criminal and Financial Networks
Links between the AUC and its Successors
Leadership
Drug Trafficking and Other Criminal Activity
Counterinsurgency Operations
III. The Rise and Growth of the Successor Groups
The Principal Successor Groups
What are the Black Eagles?
Recruitment of New Members
IV. The Successor Groups’ Human Rights and Humanitarian Impact
Violence and Threats against Vulnerable Groups
Raped and Threatened for Helping Victims
Anti-Union Violence
Local Threats and Killings: a Constant Problem
Threats and Violence against Victims of the AUC
Internal Displacement
Regional Examples
Successor Groups in Medellín
Successor Groups in the Urabá Region
Successor Groups in Meta
Successor Groups in Nariño
IV. Colombia’s Response
Obligations to Protect against the Successor Groups
Combating the Groups
The Decision to Use the Police, not the Military, to Combat the Successor Groups
Mixed Results and Obstacles to Progress in Combating the Groups
Lack of Accountability
Toleration by State Agents
Failure to Adequately Protect Civilians
Questions about Protection for AUC Victims
Failure to Adequately Register Displacement by the Successor Groups
Inadequate Responses to and Resources for Early Warning System
Acknowledgments