21 border with the Republic of Panama for arms trafficking and narcotics, and they have cut down the native 41 species in the area to allow the planting of coca, oil palm and bananas. 110. The Afro-Colombian population has been the victim of massacres, targeted executions, disappearances, acts of torture, cruel and inhuman treatment, sexual violence, acts of harassment and threats on the part of the groups engaged in the armed conflict. These groups have sought to extend their control over the territory by forced displacement, terrorizing the civilian population, gathering information 42 on rival groups, and committing acts of "social cleansing" , in particular in the areas of Urabá, the banks of the Atrato and its tributaries in the Department of Chocó.43 The massacres committed in Mutatá (in the corregimient of Pavarándo, Antioquia) in May 1997 and January 1998; Dabeida (Anitoquia) in November 1997; Riosucio (Chocó) in December 1997; Buenaventura (Valle) in May of 2000; and Alto and Bajo Naya (Cauca) in April 2001 are some of the examples of acts of violence committed by the AUC against members of the Afro-descendant communities. In some cases, it is alleged that the acts of violence were 44 committed thanks to the omission, acquiescence or collaboration of members of the Security Forces. 111. With regard to the armed conflict in the Urabá region in the north of the Department of Chocó, in the areas bordering on the river Cacarica basin (known as Bajo Atrato), the Ombudsman's Office of Colombia has reported that large scale forced displacements took place during the course of the 1990's. In effect, it stressed that "at the end of 1996, Colombian armed forces, together with the AUC 45 paramilitary forces, launched an offensive to eradicate the guerrillas from the area of Bajo Atrato." It stressed that this campaign sought to prevent the guerilla forces from obtaining civilian support, especially from the population living alongside the Atrato river tributaries, areas where the FARC traditionally held a strong presence. In the first phase, the army established controls on the Atrato river, placing strict limits on the quantity of products the residents of these communities could transport. The economic blockade had huge repercussions on these already impoverished communities...The economic blockade lasted several months and was followed by a series of joint army and paramilitary operations causing the mass displacement of many communities of the Riosucio Municipality, in 41 Annex 11. IACHR Preliminary Observations after the visit of the Rapporteur on the Rights of Afro-descendants and Against Racial Discrimination to the Republic of Colombia, paras. 49 and 50. En: http://www.IACHR.org/countryrep/ColombiaAfrodescendientes.sp/ColombiaAfros2009cap3-4.sp.htm#1. 42 Information presented to the IACHR at the hearing on the “Human Rights Situation of the Displaced Afro-Colombians in Colombia” taking place in the context of the 131st Period of Ordinary Sessions of the IACHR, March 12, 2008, and in the hearing on “Racial Discrimination and the Afro-Descendants’ Access to Justice in Colombia” taking place in the context of the 133rd Period of Ordinary Sessions of the IACHR, October 23, 2008. See Annex 11. IACHR Preliminary Observations after the visit of the Rapporteur on the Rights of Afro-descendants and Against Racial Discrimination to the Republic of Colombia, para. 55. In: http://www.IACHR.org/countryrep/ColombiaAfrodescendientes.sp/ColombiaAfros2009cap3-4.sp.htm#1. Annex 4. Letter of the Displaced Peasant Communities of Riosucio – Chocó to the Administrative Directorate of Human Rights of March 20, 1997. Annex 13 to the petitioners’ brief of March 10, 2008. See also: Annex 5. Statement of Cruz Manuel Ramírez before the Special Commission of the UDH and DIH of December 11, 2002. Annex 3 to the petitioners’ brief of March 10, 2008. Annex 6. Statement of José Bermudis Valderrama Perea before the Special Commission of the UDH and DIH of December 19, 2002. Annex 4 to the petitioners’ brief of March 10, 2008. Annex 7. Foundation for Education and Development FEDES “Forced Displacement of Persons in Colombia – Overall Summary for 1997” Document presented to the 5th Period of Sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Commission (Geneva, Switzerland, March 1997). Annex 5 to the petitioners’ brief of March 10, 2008. Annexes 8 and 8 A. Statements of Marco Antonio Cuesta Mosquera and Margarita Bergara Serrana before the Special Commission of the UDH and DIH of December 11, 2002. Annexes 12 and 14 to the petitioners’ brief of March 10, 2008. Annex 9.Tutela action filed by Hermenegilda Mosquera Murillo before the Criminal Judge, Medellin Circuit. Annex 10 to the petitioners’ brief of March 10, 2008 43 Annex 11. IACHR Preliminary Observations after the visit of the Rapporteur on the Rights of Afro-descendants and Against Racial Discrimination to the Republic of Colombia, para. 56. In: http://www.IACHR.org/countryrep/ColombiaAfrodescendientes.sp/ColombiaAfros2009cap3-4.sp.htm#1. 44 Annex 11. IACHR Preliminary Observations after the visit of the Rapporteur on the Rights of Afro-descendants and Against Racial Discrimination to the Republic of Colombia, para. 56. In: http://www.IACHR.org/countryrep/ColombiaAfrodescendientes.sp/ColombiaAfros2009cap3-4.sp.htm#1. 45 Annex 1. The Ombudsman’s Office. Ombudsman’s Resolution No. 025 on the Massive Human Rights Violations and Forced Displacement in the Bajo Atrato Region of Chocó, October 2002. Annex to the initial petition of June 1, 2004.