Amnesty’s report shows that at least 1400 civilians were killed in 2007 (compared with 1300 victims in 2006). When the murderers were identified, the police were found to be responsible for at least 330 cases, the paramilitaries for about 300 cases, and the guerrillas for about 260 cases; the number of evacuees in 2006 amounted to 305,000 people, compared with 220,000 in 2006; the police and paramilitaries were responsible for the forced disappearance of at least 190 people, also in 2007, or they were abducted by the guerrillas. In 2006, they had been about 180. "The Colombian authorities absolutely deny that, they even refuse to admit that an armed conflict exists at all. But people tell us quite a different story", explains Marcelo Pollack, researcher on Colombia for Amnesty. "For over 40 years, Colombians have been trapped in one of the worst and most forgotten conflicts in the world: they are attacked by the police, the paramilitaries and the guerrilla groups, while the government is unable to take any effective measure to protect them", insists Pollack. Amnesty asks all the parties involved in the Colombian conflict to "show the political will to put an end to the abuse" and urges the international community to "work harder to make sure the conflicting parties respect the human rights of Colombians".” “
