7. For Peace and Human Rights.
The
peace agreements between Barco's government and M-19 in March of 1990
and afterwards with the PRT, the Quitin Lame, the EPL, the insertion
of former combatants of these movements into civil life, and the new
constitution, were not able to substantially decrease the armed confrontation
because the main insurgent groups FARC, ELN and part of the EPL were
not part of the agreements. On the other hand the new president, Cesar
Gaviria, from the moment of his taking office, declared an "integral
war" on the insurgent groups. On the day of the National Constitutional
Assembly elections, he ordered an attack on the FARC camp in Casaverde,
an event that deteriorated the conflict and encouraged the growth of
the guerrilla fronts.
The Gaviria government in the presumption of defeating the insurgent
groups with the integral war resorted to the special conditions of the
State of Internal Commotion to use all the human and economic resources
for the purpose of war. It applied measures that ignored the economic
rights of the people and violated their civil and political rights,
nullifying the rights given by the new constitution. In light of this
situation the VII Forum directed the Committee's actions to secure the
rights of the Constitution; demand the depuration of the Armed Forces
of the elements responsible for Human Rights violations; demilitarization
of civil life and disarming of paramilitary groups; provide guarantees
to local representatives in their mission of defending Human Rights;
void the measures dictated by the State of Internal Commotion; guarantee
the return of those displaced to their homes with monetary compensation
and apply without restrictions the International Humanitarian Law by
the parts of the armed conflict.
The actions of the committee were severely limited at this time due
to the lack of economic resources. The permanent funds from senators
and representatives were cut off and the Committee was forced to look
for assistance from international organizations.