PRESS RELEASE

 

Nš 31/05

 

THE IACHR DEPLORES THE ASSASSINATION
OF 14 POLICE OFFICERS IN COLOMBIA

 

 

The Inter-American Commission on Human rights (IACHR) has been informed of the death of 14 members of the Colombian National Police in the context of bomb attack, presumably carried out by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on August 1, 2005 in the Atanquez district in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.  The IACHR rejects and deeply deplores this act of violence and extends its condolences to the families of the members of the Colombian National Police who were killed in the line of duty. 

 

Violence perpetrated by actors in the armed conflict in this area of the country has led the Inter-American Court of Human rights to order provisional measures for the protection of the civilian population of the Kankuamo ethnic group in the Sierra Nevada.  The violent deaths of these 14 members of the National Police occurred while they were engaged in carrying out that security mission.

 

Washington D.C., August 4, 2005