| Press Statement Sean McCormack, Spokesman Washington, DC August 14, 2007 United States Condemns Terrorist Use of Landmines in ColombiaWe condemn the continued and growing use of landmines and other explosive devices by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist organization against innocent civilians and Colombian authorities. Colombia now has the world’s highest rate of casualties from these devices.
The FARC’s cruel and wanton use of landmines and other “hidden killers” further demonstrates their disregard for Colombia’s rural poor. In fact, the FARC’s use of mines and other explosive devices victimizes farmers and their families. Colombia is the only country in the world where the number of victims from landmines are increasing, rather than decreasing. This year the United States will provide $750,000 to support Colombia’s Emergency Rapid Response Demining Brigade and to provide landmine survivors assistance through the Colombian Center for Integrated Rehabilitation. The United States calls on all members of the Organization of American States, all fellow parties to the Amended Mines Protocol to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, and all other nations and peoples with a conscious to join in condemning the FARC’s murderous activities and in preventing it from receiving any form of assistance. 2007/691 |
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