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Despite the fact that the illegal armed parties have stepped up their efforts to involve the civilian population in the Colombian armed conflict, contributing to the deterioration of the situation in the country, there has been significant progress in the fight against all armed groups. Armed forces and police operations against the guerrilla and self-defense groups have indeed achieved positive results. The government's efforts in the application of its Policy on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law are also proving fruitful.
The results of operations conducted by the armed forces and the police between 1995 and 2000 and made available by the Ministry of National Defense, show that military action taken by the State against illegal groups has been stepped up significantly. The efforts made to combat the self-defense groups achieved notable results, as the figures for casualties and arrests show. The casualties inflicted and arrests made by the army and the police have meant to the self-defense groups the loss of nearly 15 per cent of its members between 1995 and 2000. It is estimated that the current strength of the self-defense groups is about 8,000 individuals. This year, until May 30, the military forces have killed 40 and captured 291 members of these groups. In addition, a heavily armed helicopter was shot down. In recent weeks, as a result of Operation Dignity, launched against the self-defense groups operating in the Naya and Yurumaniguí regions, in Valle and Cauca, and responsible for the Alto Naya massacre, the military forces arrested 73 individuals. National Navy units found dead another four, also responsible for the Alto Naya massacre.
With respect to military action taken against subversive groups, the number of casualties inflicted by the army and the police rose by 19.7 per cent, compared to the previous year. During the period 1995-2000 the number of casualties came to a total of 4,670, with an average annual rate of increase of 9.7 per cent. This year, until May 30, the military forces have killed 376 and arrested 605 members of subversive groups.
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