Killings Down in 2003

The number of assassinations of Colombian trade unionists has decreased since President Alvaro Uribe took office last fall. In the first four months of this year 16 trade unionists were murdered compared to 97 in the same time period last year. Analysts believe that this welcome development is nevertheless further evidence that paramilitary groups are responsible for the assassinations of Colombian trade unionists. Dr. Carlos Franco of the Presidential Human Rights Program in Colombia has explained that paramilitaries are interested in Uribe's offer to negotiate with them. They are especially interested in receiving amnesty for past crimes and are therefore attempting to maintain a somewhat lower profile. Yet they are still attacking civilians, including trade unionists, and other human rights violations have reportedly risen as paramilitaries have turned to less violent forms of persecution such as death threats, detentions, forced displacement, and harassment.

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