• Editor's note 
• Opinion: Visit By Olara Otunnu To Colombia and their risks 
• Brief Reports and Calendar

May 1999

The first publication in the series DIAL RESEARCH has come out: "The Deng Principles and Forced Displacement in Colombia." A rough draft was presented at the seminar on Displacement in Colombia. The publication has six sections which include causes and trends in forced displacement in Colombia, Colombian governmental response, prevention, humanitarian attention, return or relocation, and access to lasting solutions. Each of these sections features interesting and heartfelt recommendations and proposes that solutions to the problem of displacement be undertaken as a collective endeavour that includes having national NGO's and the international community provide complementary support to the state. 
 

1. This past April, Mr. Francis Deng visited Colombia for the second time. The purpose of his visit was to put the issue of displacement on the national agenda and to call for clear policies in favour of the displaced. During his visit he attended the International Seminar on Displacement in Colombia. DIAL presented a report and three of its members participated actively. The feature topic in the next issue of DIALOGUE will be Mr. Deng's visit and his progress.
2. PCS, a member of DIAL, together with UNIFEM, organised the Workshop on the Protection of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Rights of Displaced Women. Alda Facio facilitated the workshop on International Penal Court and Luz Marina Tamayo from the ICRC spoke on IHL and its application in Colombia. The proceedings of this workshop are being edited by PCS.
3. DIAL participated in the workshop "Human Rights and International NGO's" organised by ECHO and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The topics of discussion included the relation between the concepts of HR and IHL at a practical level and reflections on the concepts of neutrality, impartiality and objectivity that are directly related to international co-operation. Furthermore, discussion took place on the role and scope of the OHCHR in Colombia. (A document on the functions of the OHCHR at its web)

The Diocese of Quibdó invited various national and international NGO's to create a mixed commission to visit the Middle Atrato region from June 30 to July 2. DIAKONIA participated on behalf of DIAL. The group studied the living conditions of the black and indigenous populations in the region. It is hoped that the visit will contribute positively to improving the living conditions and rights of these peoples and communities.

Given the worsening of the armed conflict and the recent kidnappings, DIAL issued two communiqués. The first one condemned the kidnapping of Piedad Córdoba and the passengers from the Avianca plane. In the second, human rights organisations, churches, the International Office for Human Rights-Colombia Action (OIDHACO) and the OHCHR united to urge the government to stick with the search for a political solution to the conflict. (The texts of these communiqués) 

The OHCHR, the OAS, the European Union, the governments of other countries, and the UNHCR supported the request made by 66 US congressmen that the government step in and cut the ties between the military and the self-defense groups. They also defended the Amnesty International annual report that came out on June 16 and "condemned the abuses committed by the armed groups in opposition" and called for the "release of the hostages." The report also asserts that the conflict has caused more than 300,000 people to be internally displaced and considers that the situation in Colombia is "worrisome." (More)  
 

• The World Food Program has agreed to engage in an aid program that will benefit nearly 227,000 displaced persons over the next two years.
• The UNHCR will establish six offices in the regions with the most displacement: Barrancabermeja, Apartadó and Puerto Asís.

The OHCHR and Vice-President Gustavo Bell signed an agreement to protect human rights. The accord seeks to make the OHCHR mandate more functional in Colombia.

The Jesuit Service for Refugees, the Javeriana University and the DIAL agencies; Diakonía, Project Counselling Service, OXFAM-GB, Christian Aid, will host a "Meeting for Exchange on Emergency Humanitarian Attention to Persons Displaced by Violence in Colombia" from August 31 to September 2, 1999. (For information on this event, contact evento@colnodo.apc.org) 

A mixed verification commission on displaced persons in the Lower Atrato who have settled in Turbo, Bocas del Atrato and Bahía Cupica seeks to foment negotiations to set dates for the first phase of the return for nearly 400 families. The commission is made up of government sectors, the National Conciliation Commission, the Colombian Episcopalian Conference, Justice and Peace, Humanidad Vigente, UNHCR, ICRC, OHCHR, DIAL and other representatives of the international community. Highlights of this process will be featured in the next issue of DIAL RESEARCH to be published at the end of August.