Although the variety of statistics, definitions and sources makes it difficult to form a complete and exact picture of the Colombian Human Rights situation, an analysis of homicide situation does offer a realistic idea of its seriousness as it treats the fundamental right to life. Homicide is a clear indicator of violent death in Colombia. COMPARATIVE RESULTS OF DEATHS IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SUBVERSIVE FORCES January to July 1999 Sources: General Army Command. National Police Center for Criminological Investigations. In 1998, according to the National Police, there were 23,096 homicides in Colombia, 9% of which were aggravated homicides and for terrorist objectives. According to the analysis of Los Andes University's Public Peace Unit, high proportion of these homicides are intentional. Despite the fact that there is a high concentration of homicide in cities, homicide indices are highest in rural areas. ARMY AND POLICE PERSONNEL KILLED IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SUBVERSIVE FORCES January to July 1999 Sources: General Army Command. National Police Center for Criminological Investigations. Minors as a population group represent 8% of deaths from homicide. The number of minors killed in this country according to National Police data for 1998 was 1,738, an average of five cases per day. Conflicts between gangs, groups of juvenile delinquents, illegal "self-defence" and guerrilla groups are the most common profile of youth urban homicides, in the 15 to 18 age group. According to data from the Public Defender's Office, minors are the main victims of violence through armed conflict, as evidenced by the cases of death and mutilation from explosives. The civilian population has frequently been the victim of political violence, as is shown by the 859 civilian out-of-combat deaths during this year, until July, according to data from the General Army Command. The characteristics and seriousness of this situation were covered in great part in the first issue of the Observatory. CIVILIANS KILLED OUT OF COMBAT January to July 1999 Sources: Colombian Army General Comand. Regarding other fundamental Human Rights abuses, such as attacks on personal freedom, National Police figures, based on the number of cases reported, show that kidnapping is the most frequent crime followed by threats and torture. The various sources of information dealing with kidnapping, including the Presidential Program on Personal Freedom and the National Police Center for Criminological Investigations, show that the guerrilla group ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional) is the leading perpetrator of kidnappings this year.