Colombia cracks down on rebels

The army are accused of having paramilitary links

By Jeremy McDermott in Colombia

The army in Colombia says it has drastically increased its operations in 2001 against left-wing rebels and right-wing paramilitaries.

In a newly released report the army said almost 1,000 rebels were killed this year, an increase of almost 10%.

Colombians are beginning to wonder if this cure for the guerrilla problem might not be worse than the disease

It also said almost 100 paramilitaries died fighting its troops.

This, says the army, is proof that it is serious about taking on the right-wing death squads.

However, human rights groups remain unconvinced, believing the links between the army and the paramilitaries are stronger than ever.

The Colombian security forces have killed and captured more members of the outlawed United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, the AUC, than ever before.

More massacres

In a report charting the war against paramilitaries, the army stated that 92 were killed and over 450 captured this year - a vast increase over last year.

Local army commanders say they lack resources

Yet during this year the paramilitaries have killed more people than ever before, most of them unarmed, in massacres and selective assassinations.

Among the victims have been politicians, journalists, trade unionists and peace activists.

Sources within the Defence Ministry insist there is a will among the senior commanders to take on the paramilitaries, but the problems lie more at local level.

It is here that resources are severely stretched as the Colombian army tries to beat off over 20,000 Marxist guerrillas who have grown rich off the drugs trade, kidnapping and extortion.

Military co-operation

Local army commanders say they do not have the men to open a second front against the paramilitaries.

While some privately admit that since the paramilitaries are sworn to eliminate Marxist guerrillas and not attack the state, then if they are not actively helped, a blind eye can be turned to their activities.

Yet this blind eye, which in some regions is active co-operation, has allowed the paramilitaries to enjoy explosive growth to - if their figures are to be believed - some 40,000 fighters.

Human rights groups insist the links between the military and the paramilitaries are stronger than ever.

But Colombians now see the paramilitary abuses now coming to equal, if not exceed those of the guerrillas and they are beginning to wonder if this cure for the guerrilla problem might not be worse than the disease.