On behalf of the Disappeared

On behalf of the Internally Displaced

On behalf of the Massacred

On behalf of the Executed

In Colombia there are nearly four million people who have been displaced, mostly by paramilitary groups. These paramilitaries, either alone or in conjunction with members of the military, are responsible for the disappearance of at least 15,000 compatriots who have been buried in more than 3,000 mass graves or have had their bodies thrown into rivers; they have killed more than 1,700 indigenous people, 2,550 union members, and nearly 5,000 members of the Unión Patriótica (Patriotic Union, Colombian oppositional political party). Often, they have tortured their victims before killing them. Between 1982 and 2005, these paramilitary groups have perpetrated more than 3500 massacres, and have stolen more than six million hectares of land. Since 2002, after their "demobilization", they have killed 600 people each year. They have come to control 35% of the country's Parliament (according to their own claims). From 2002 until today, members of the Colombian army have committed more than 950 executions, most presented as "false positives" (civilians shown to the media as insurgents killed in combat). In the month of January 2008 alone, the paramilitaries perpetrated two massacres, 9 forced disappearances of people, and 8 homicides, while the Army has committed 16 extrajudicial executions.

In Colombia , paramilitary and state agents regularly violate human rights and humanitarian law. Despite claims, many paramilitary groups have not been demobilized. They now call themselves "Black Eagles". Many "parapoliticians" (politicians who have some kind of economic, ideological, political or logistic relation with these groups) now occupy public offices or have been appointed to diplomatic posts.

Accompany us on the 6th of March to commemorate the victims of the paramilitaries, parapoliticians and agents of the State.
And to say:

No More Mass Graves ! Never Again Forced Displacements! Never Again Paramilitaries! Never Again Parapoliticians! Never Again State Sponsored Crimes!

The National Movement of Victims of State-Sponsored Crimes convenes all people of good faith to a demonstration on MARCH 6, 2008:

At the Vancouver Art Gallery , Robson Street side 5-7 pm

National Day of Homage and Solidarity with the Victims of Paramilitary Activity, Parapoliticians, and State Crimes.