WUOrevolt
21st January 2006, 21:59
Colombia faction lays down arms
A total of 16,000 AUC members have now handed in weapons
About 2,600 Colombian paramilitaries have taken part in the biggest disarmament drive of the peace process.
The members of the Miners' Bloc of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) laid down their arms at a ceremony north-west of Bogota.
Analysts say the move is a big step in the peace process between the right-wing AUC and the government.
But human rights groups are concerned that paramilitaries who have committed atrocities will also go unpunished.
'Recycling'
The commander of the demobilised AUC Miners' Bloc, Ramiro Vanoy, is wanted in the US for drug-trafficking - but he will avoid extradition.
Under the terms of a controversial process that began in 2003, those who have committed crimes and agree to disarm face reduced prison terms.
A total of 16,000 AUC members have now taken advantage of the offer and only about 3,000 remain.
Most of the rank-and-file paramilitaries are expected to be pardoned and can be eligible for job-training programmes and a monthly government stipend for two years.
Human rights groups say the process will merely "recycle" fighters and allow them to act with more impunity.
The paramilitaries were formed in the 1980s by drug traffickers and cattle ranchers to counter Marxist rebel groups that have been battling the government for more than four decades.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4633948.stm
A total of 16,000 AUC members have now handed in weapons
About 2,600 Colombian paramilitaries have taken part in the biggest disarmament drive of the peace process.
The members of the Miners' Bloc of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) laid down their arms at a ceremony north-west of Bogota.
Analysts say the move is a big step in the peace process between the right-wing AUC and the government.
But human rights groups are concerned that paramilitaries who have committed atrocities will also go unpunished.
'Recycling'
The commander of the demobilised AUC Miners' Bloc, Ramiro Vanoy, is wanted in the US for drug-trafficking - but he will avoid extradition.
Under the terms of a controversial process that began in 2003, those who have committed crimes and agree to disarm face reduced prison terms.
A total of 16,000 AUC members have now taken advantage of the offer and only about 3,000 remain.
Most of the rank-and-file paramilitaries are expected to be pardoned and can be eligible for job-training programmes and a monthly government stipend for two years.
Human rights groups say the process will merely "recycle" fighters and allow them to act with more impunity.
The paramilitaries were formed in the 1980s by drug traffickers and cattle ranchers to counter Marxist rebel groups that have been battling the government for more than four decades.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4633948.stm