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	Colombia must investigate killings of indigenous people by James Anaya. Marie-Helene Verney United Nations Colombia   Aug. 2009   Outrage after mass killing of indigenous people, by James Anaya. (UN News)   A United Nations human rights expert today condemned the massacre of 12 indigenous people, including seven children, in southern Colombia and voiced concern about an apparent wave of deadly attacks this year against indigenous peoples in that region of the South American country.   Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a house in an indigenous reservation in Colombia’s Nariño department early last Tuesday. The victims, from the ethnic Awá group, included seven children and some of their parents. At least three others were injured.   James Anaya, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, issued a statement in Geneva expressing his outrage about the attacks.   “I roundly condemn these barbaric acts and observe with pain and extreme concern the consequences of this new wave of assassinations against the indigenous peoples of the Nariño department,” he said, voicing his solidarity with the Awá people.   Mr. Anaya said at least 38 Awá have been killed in Colombia so far this year and urged the country’s authorities to step up their efforts to protect the rights of the indigenous group.   “The effective guarantee of human rights of indigenous peoples is deeply tied to their collective right to live in peace and security as distinct peoples and to not be subjected to any act of violence.” Mr. Anaya urged authorities to investigate the killings thoroughly and to punish those found responsible.   Feb 2009   The UN refugee agency called Tuesday for a thorough investigation into the reported murders last week of 17 Awá indigenous people in a remote area of south-western Colombia.   "We strongly urge all parties involved to respect international humanitarian law and ask the Colombian government to fulfill its obligations to protect civilians and take special measures for the preservation of indigenous people," said a UNHCR spokesperson.   According to initial reports from provincial and local authorities, the victims include two women and a child and were killed last week on Awá collective territory in the Colombian department of Nariño. The rest of the population is now extremely frightened amid increasing concerns over a mass displacement of people in the days to come.   The area, located along the Telembi River between the villages of Ricaurte and Barbacoas, is remote and extremely difficult to reach. In some areas, there are many landmines. According to first reports, which are not yet possible to fully verify, the 17 indigenous people were murdered in a retaliatory attack carried out by an irregular armed group against the civilian population following the arrival of the Colombian armed forces.   The UNHCR field office in Nariño has been working closely with the Awá people, who like many Colombian indigenous groups have been struggling for years to keep out of the country"s internal conflict. The Awá in this part of Nariño live on protected collective territory, but this has not stopped armed groups from entering their lands.   As a result, they have been subjected to severe rights violations, including constant pressure and persecution, repeated murders and forced displacement. They have repeatedly been forced to flee their ancestral lands over the past few years. Some have crossed the border to take refuge in neighbouring Ecuador. The use of landmines by irregular armed groups on their territory is another source of terror and forced displacement.   Ron Redmond, chief UNHCR spokesperson, told journalists in Geneva on Tuesday that the refugee agency was "shocked and saddened at the reported killings and we express our condolences to the Awá people, reiterate our support to their right to live peacefully on their own territory, and reaffirm our commitment to keep working with them.   "We also call for an urgent and independent inquiry into the reported incident and for quick and effective prevention measures as outlined in a series of early warnings repeatedly issued by Colombia"s Ombudsman Office for the Nariño region."   With 21,000 people, the Awá are the largest indigenous group in Nariño, a department that suffers some of the worst violence and forced displacement in Colombia. For the past two years, Nariño produced more than 10 percent of all cases of new forced displacement in the country.   More than 300,000 people were displaced in Colombia in 2007 and preliminary 2008 figures show a similar trend, bringing the total number of registered internally displaced people to more than 2.8 million.   The Awá people are one of 87 different indigenous groups in Colombia. More than a third of these groups are at risk of extinction, largely as a result of armed conflict and forced displacement. Their survival depends greatly on being able to remain on their ancestral territories and maintaining their close links to the land. The Colombian constitution recognizes them as people with special rights and specific protection needs.   With 12 offices in Colombia, UNHCR works with the government to help it fulfill this protection duty and with indigenous organizations all over the country. Part of that effort has been a campaign to raise awareness of the magnitude of a crisis that unfortunately continues year after year.
	Sneaking in where thugs rule by Nicholas D. Kristof New York Times / Global Justice Center Burma / Myanmar   Feb 2009   Before entering Myanmar from Thailand, you scrub your bags of any hint that you might be engaged in some pernicious evil, such as espionage, journalism or promotion of human rights.   Then you exit from the Thai town of Mae Sot and walk across the gleaming white "friendship bridge" to the Burmese immigration post on the other side. Entering Myanmar (which traditionally has been known as Burma), you adjust your watch: Myanmar is 30 minutes - and 50 years - behind.   Already Myanmar"s government is one of the most brutal in the world, and in recent months it has become even more repressive.   A blogger, Nay Phone Latt, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. A prominent comedian, Zarganar, was sentenced to 59 years. A former student leader, Min Ko Naing, a survivor of years of torture and solitary confinement, has received terms of 65 years so far and faces additional sentences that may reach a total of 150 years.   "Politically, things are definitely getting worse," said David Mathieson, an expert on Myanmar for Human Rights Watch living on the Thai-Burmese border. "They"ve just sent hundreds of people who should be agents of change to long prison terms."   A new American presidency is a useful moment to review policy toward Myanmar, and the truth is that the West"s approach has failed.   The Burmese junta has ruled despotically since 1988, ignoring democratic elections. Since then, sanctions have had zero effect in moderating the regime.   I have vast respect for Aung San Suu Kyi, the extraordinary woman who won a Nobel Peace Prize for standing up to the country"s military thugs.   The best hope to bring pressure for change is through financial sanctions that specifically target individuals close to the regime - and, even more, a clampdown on Burma"s arms imports. The Obama administration, has a chance to lead an international initiative to curb Burmese arms imports and bring the regime to the negotiating table.   Myanmar"s weapons have come from or through China, Russia, Ukraine, Israel and Singapore, and Russia is even selling Myanmar"s dictators a nuclear reactor, Mathieson said.   I found it difficult to interview people in Myanmar, because I was traveling as a tourist with two of my kids. But we dropped in on the Myawaddy hospital, which was so understaffed that no one stopped us as we marched through wards of neglected patients.   In Mae Sot, Thailand, I visited with former Burmese political prisoners, like the courageous Bo Kyi. They are at risk of being killed by Burmese government, yet they are campaigning aggressively for change.   Equally inspiring are the Free Burma Rangers, who risk their lives to sneak deep into the country for months at a time to provide medical care and document human rights abuses.   One American working with the group, communicated with me. He knows that the Burmese government will kill him if it catches him, yet he stays to gather photos and other evidence of how Burmese soldiers are drafting ethnic Karen villagers for forced labor and are raping women and girls. One recent case described by the Free Burma Rangers involved a 7-year-old girl who was raped, and then killed. Visit the related web page
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