June 1999 News by Hiram Ruiz U.S. Committee for Refugees CSN Home

Venezuela and Colombia Intimidate Refugees into Dangerous Return

On Sunday, June 13, Venezuela repatriated 600 Colombian refugees who as recently as Wednesday, June 9, had assured USCR that they feared returning to Colombia and wanted asylum in Venezuela. USCR is deeply concerned about reports that the Venezuelan military not only pressured the refugees into a precipitous return, but that Colombian military officials visited the refugees and intimidated—even threatened—them into returning. Such actions would represent a flagrant violation of international law and warrant international condemnation.

The Venezuelan and Colombian militaries declared the repatriation “voluntary,” but because of the intimidation and threats directed at the refugees, USCR seriously doubts that this repatriation was voluntary. At worst, the refugees’ return could potentially be refoulement (forced return). Refoulement is strictly prohibited by the UN Refugee Convention and Protocol, to which both Venezuela and Colombia are signatories.

The refugees fled to Venezuela beginning Monday, June 7, to escape an offensive in their home area by paramilitary groups, who have massacred dozens of civilians in the past two weeks. USCR visited the refugees on the Venezuela-Colombia border before any Venezuelan or international authorities arrived. More than 100 heads of family individually told USCR and the Venezuelan NGO Red de Apoyo that they would not return to Colombia because they feared for their lives there.

The Venezuelan military transferred the refugees from their point of entry at La Vaquera to the town of Casigua on June 10, ostensibly because of the inadequate physical conditions at La Vaquera. At Casigua, the Venezuelan authorities reportedly denied the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) access to the refugees, and also kept representatives of Venezuelan human rights groups at bay.

The Venezuelan military took control of the refugees and reportedly permitted the Venezuelan civilian authorities, who themselves were said to be over-eager to bring the situation to a quick end, a minimal role. The Venezuelan military then invited representatives of the Colombian military and civilian government to Casigua to meet with the refugees. UNHCR and human rights groups were barred from the meeting.

Colombian General Matamoros, who many Colombians believe is sympathetic to the right-wing paramilitaries, represented the Colombian military. He reportedly began his presentation by telling the refugees to sit, so that “he could see their faces.” According to an observer who was present, the general then accused some of the young people among the refugees of being guerrillas and ordered them to identify themselves. Matamoros allegedly added that the refugees’ future security would depend on the extent to which they told the truth.

Following this egregious intimidation and threats, all of the refugees, including a large group who had been refusing to return to Colombia, “agreed” to return. The Venezuelan and Colombian militaries then made hasty arrangements to return the refugees as quickly as possible. The Colombian authorities agreed to put the returnees in a camp for several days, while the Colombian military secured their home area so that they refugees could be returned there. Given that many of the refugees accused the military of not only facilitating but even assisting the paramilitaries in their offensive, it is extremely doubtful that the refugees will feel safe knowing that their protection is dependent on this same military.

USCR urges the international community, including UNHCR, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as well as Colombian human rights groups to demand access to the returnees, and to be permitted a presence in the returnees’ home areas so that they can provide them at least a minimum of protection.

Hiram A. Ruiz
Senior Policy Analyst
U.S. Committee for Refugees
Tel: (202) 347-3507
Fax: (202) 347-3418
email: hruiz@irsa-uscr.org