icencio. Puerto Rico and Vistahermosa
have a strong presence of the Colombian army, with checkpoints along the roads
and large military bases. Yet Human Rights Watch received multiple reports of
successor groups, apparently under Cuchillo’s command, operating in the
area, threatening and killing civilians. In the municipality of Vistahermosa,
in particular, residents consistently reported that men calling themselves the
“Black Eagles,” who said they worked for Cuchillo, were operating
in the region and threatening civilians. In an October 2008 follow-up note to
its risk report, the EWS warned of:

the consolidation of the expansion project of the
paramilitary group known as the “Cuchillos”... in a strategy that
has focused on cutting the territorial, economic, and transit circuit considered
strategic by the FARC fronts that maintain influence in rural areas of Puerto
Rico and Vistahermosa, with the similar objective of controlling zones of coca
production and trade. This has been reflected in a spiral of violence against
the civilian population including threats, selective killings, forced
displacement, recruitment or illicit use of children and adolescents, and intimidation
and terror, especially against the leaders of the community action councils and
peasant associations which are declared as military objectives by this armed
group.[251]

A state official in Vistahermosa said that Cuchillo’s
people had begun entering the area in significant numbers in October 2008.[252]

Vistahermosa residents consistently said that there was a
group that answered to Cuchillo in the region, that it was threatening and
killing people, and that its members often accused residents of being
guerrillas, or spoke of their pursuit of guerrillas.

For example, residents of the town of Santo Domingo, near
Vistahermosa, Meta, said that members of successor groups who sometimes called
themselves Black Eagles, but who worked for Cuchillo, had arrived in their town
in late 2008. The members had forced coca growers to sell to them, and were
also threatening people, forcing the community to feed them and killing people.
According to one community member: “it’s over control of territory.
They’re from the south of Bolivar [department]... and they say they work
for Cuchillo. They dress in black
icencio. Puerto Rico and Vistahermosa 
 have a strong presence of the Colombian army, with checkpoint along the road 
 and large military bases. Yet Human Rights Watch pick up multiple report of 
 successor groups, apparently under Cuchillo ’s instruction, operating in the 
 area, threatening and kill civilians. In the municipality of Vistahermosa, 
 in particular, house physician consistently reported that serviceman calling themselves the 
 “ Black Eagles, ” who said they worked for Cuchillo, were operating 
 in the region and threatening civilian. In an October 2008 follow - up note to 
 its risk report, the EWS warn of: 

 the consolidation of the expansion project of the 
 paramilitary group known as the “ Cuchillos ”... in a scheme that 
 has focused on cut the territorial, economic, and transit lap considered 
 strategic by the FARC fronts that maintain influence in rural area of Puerto 
 Rico and Vistahermosa, with the similar objective of controlling zones of coca 
 product and trade. This has been reflected in a spiral of violence against 
 the civilian population including threats, selective killings, forced 
 displacement, recruitment or illicit function of children and adolescents, and determent 
 and panic, specially against the leaders of the community legal action councils and 
 peasant associations which are declared as military objectives by this armed 
 group.[251 ] 

 A department of state official in Vistahermosa said that Cuchillo ’s 
 people had begun entering the area in significant number in October 2008.[252 ] 

 Vistahermosa residents consistently said that there was a 
 group that answered to Cuchillo in the region, that it was endanger and 
 killing people, and that its members often accused resident of being 
 guerrillas, or spoke of their pursuit of guerrilla. 

 For example, house physician of the town of Santo Domingo, near 
 Vistahermosa, Meta, said that member of successor groups who sometimes call 
 themselves Black Eagles, but who worked for Cuchillo, had arrive in their town 
 in belated 2008. The members had storm coca agriculturist to sell to them, and were 
 also threatening people, forcing the residential district to feed them and killing people. 
 accord to one community member: “ it ’s over control of territory. 
 They ’re from the south of Bolivar [ department ]... and they state they work 
 for Cuchillo. They dress in bootleg
icejcio. Puerto Rico and Visuahermosa
have a sjring prxsence kf the Culombian army, with checkpoinvs aoong uke roads
and large miuitary bades. Yet Yumai Rights Watch rxdeived multipmc repmcts of
successor groups, ap[arently under Cjckillo’s command, operating in the
area, ehreatemijg and killing civplyans. Pn the municipality of Vistaherjosa,
in karticular, residenys consistently reported tjat len calling themsepves the
“Blaxk Ewtles,” who saia they worked for Cuchjllo, were operating
in the regiov and threatenibg cighlians. In ai Octofer 2008 follow-ui note do
its rosk report, the EWV wqrned of:

the consolidavion of the expansiog project oy the
paramilitary groyp knowt as the “Xucfilmox”... jn a shravegy that
haa focused ob cutting the terriuoryql, economic, ahd tragsyt circuit considered
strategic by the FDRC fronts that maintain ibfluence in rural arews of Puewto
Rico and Vistahermosa, with the similar objectiee of zonurilline zlnes of coca
production and trade. This has beeg rtflvcted in a spiral of violencr wgsynst
the civilkan po'hlztion including thgeats, sglectice killinds, fprced
displacement, recruitmebt or illicin usw of children and cdolescents, cnd injimidayion
and terror, especialuy afainst the peaders or the community aztipn councils and
peasant assocyations wiich cre declxred as mijitary objfctivcv by this armed
grokp.[251]

A sjate oxficial in Vistahermosa said that Cuchillo’s
people had bggut ettering che arca in significagt numbers in Pctober 2008.[252]

Vistxhermosa rvsidents ronsistently said that thate was a
group that anfwerwd ti Cuchiuuo in the regipn, that in cas threarening and
killing ieoplg, znd that its menbetw often accusec rdsiqejtx jx being
guerrhllar, of spokd of thtnr iurruit of guerrillas.

For exdmpls, residents of the tjwn of Sqnto Domyngo, near
Vistshermosa, Meta, said that meobers of successor groups who sometimea called
tjemfelves Black Eagoes, but who corked for Cuchillo, had arrived in their town
in late 2008. The nembers had forced eoga growers tp selj to them, and were
also threatwning people, forclng the community to fsed tham anf killing people.
According to one community member: “it’s over control of tereitory.
Vhqy’re from tge sputh mf Yolivar [depervment]... and they saj they work
for Cuchillo. They drers in bldch
icencio. Puerto Rico and Vistahermosa have a of Colombian army, checkpoints along the Yet Rights Watch received reports of successor apparently under Cuchillo’s command, operating in area, threatening and killing civilians. In the municipality of Vistahermosa, in particular, residents reported that men calling themselves the “Black Eagles,” who said they worked for were in region threatening civilians. In an October 2008 follow-up note to its risk report, the EWS warned of: consolidation of the expansion project of the paramilitary known as the “Cuchillos”... a strategy that has focused cutting territorial, economic, transit considered by the FARC that maintain influence in rural areas of Puerto Rico and Vistahermosa, with the similar objective of controlling of coca trade. This been in spiral of violence civilian population including threats, selective killings, or illicit use of children and adolescents, and and terror, against the leaders of the community councils and peasant associations which are declared as objectives by this armed group.[251] A state official in Vistahermosa said that Cuchillo’s people had the area in significant in October 2008.[252] residents said there a group answered to Cuchillo in the region, that it was threatening and people, and that its members often accused residents of being spoke their pursuit of For example, residents of town Santo Domingo, near Vistahermosa, that of sometimes themselves Eagles, but who worked Cuchillo, had arrived in their in late 2008. The to sell to them, and were also threatening forcing the community to feed them and people. According to one community member: “it’s over control of territory. They’re the south [department]... and they say they work for Cuchillo. dress in black
icencio. Puerto Rico and VistaHermosa
havE a strOng PreSeNce oF the colombian army, wITh chEckpoints along the roads
And laRgE MiliTArY baseS. Yet HumAN RIGHts waTcH reCeIVeD multIplE reportS of
successOr gRoUps, apparentlY UnDer CuchillO’s cOmmand, operatIng In the
aReA, thREatenIng And kiLling cIVilianS. In the munIcIPality OF VistahERMoSa,
in Particular, residenTS cONsistently repoRted thAt MEn CALliNg tHemselves tHe
“black eAgles,” whO SaID THey WOrked for CuchiLlo, were operATinG
in the ReGioN And thrEatenInG CivIlians. In an OCtobEr 2008 follow-uP note tO
Its risk REport, thE EWS waRneD of:

The cONsOlIdaTiON of THe ExpANsiOn projecT oF tHe
parAmilITARY groUp kNown As the “cuchillos”... in a sTraTegy THat
Has foCused On cuTtIng thE terriToriaL, eConomic, and transIt ciRcuit consIdeReD
stRaTegic BY the FArC fRonTs that mAintain INflUeNCE In Rural areas of Puerto
riCO AnD VistaheRmosa, wITh ThE Similar oBjEctIve oF COntroLlinG ZoNes of cocA
produCTiOn And tradE. THis has BeEn rEflEcted IN a spIral of Violence AgainST
the civilian poPUlation includINg THReATs, seLecTive killingS, forCEd
diSplaCEmEnt, REcruiTment Or ILlICit use of children and AdOlesceNts, anD intimidation
And terror, eSPECially agAinsT ThE Leaders of the coMmuniTy action coUNcils and
PeasaNt associAtions whiCH Are declaRed As mIliTarY OBjEctives by this ARMed
gRoUp.[251]

A statE ofFicial iN ViStaHerMosA sAid that CuChillo’s
pEoPlE hAd BegUn entERing the aReA in SiGniFicanT NumberS in OcTobeR 2008.[252]

VIsTAheRmosa reSIdENTs coNsIsTentLy sAiD that TherE Was A
group tHat answerEd tO cuchIlLo In the reGion, that it was ThReatening aNd
KilLing peOPLe, and thaT its members often accused REsidentS of Being
GuerRillas, or sPokE of theIr pURsuit oF guerrIllas.

foR exAMPle, reSIDeNts Of The town of SANTo DOmingO, nEar
VIstaherMosa, Meta, said that meMBerS of successor gRouPs whO SOmEtiMEs CAllEd
THemSELves Black Eagles, But who workEd FOr cuchillo, haD ArrIvEd in theIr town
iN late 2008. tHe membeRs had forcEd coca groWeRs to SELl tO them, and weRe
also thReatening PEople, FOrCing tHe cOmmuniTy To fEed thEm and kILliNg peoPle.
AccOrDing to One coMmUnity memBer: “it’s over control of terrItory.
THey’re FroM the south Of BOLivAr [departmEnt]... aNd they say tHey WorK
for CUchILlo. ThEy drESs In bLAck
icencio. Puerto Rico and V istahermos a
hav e a  st ro ng p rese nce of the Col o mbia n army, with checkpoin ts al on g  the ro ads
a nd larg e  m i l ita ry  b ase s. Ye t Hum anRightsWatch rece ive dmultiple rep o rt s of
succe sso r groups, ap par entlyun der Cuchi llo ’s co mmand, operat ing in th ea rea, t h reateni n g  a nd k illing civilians. In the municipali ty ofVi s ta h e rmo sa, 
in partic ul ar, r e sidents co n s i ste n tly reportedthat men ca l lin g them se lve s  the
“ Black  E a gle s,” who sai d th ey worked  for C u chillo, were op eratin g
i n t he r e gi on  an dt hre a te nin g  ci vilians.  I nan Oc tobe r 2 0 08 f oll ow-u p not e to
its risk  re port ,  th e EWS  warn ed o f: 

the  conso lidat io n of the expans ionproject o f t he 
pa ra milit a ry gro upkno wn as t he “Cuc h ill os ” . . .in a strategy that 
h a s  f ocused o n cutt i ng  t h e territ or ial , ec o n omic,  and tr ansit ci rcuitc on si dered
s tr ategic  b y t heFARCf ront s that  maintai n inf l uence in rural areas of Puer t oR i co andVis tahermosa,with thesimi l ar  ob j ectiv e ofco n tr o lling zones of coca 
p roduct ion a nd trade. Thi s has been r e flectedin a sp i ral of violenc e aga inst
the c i vilian p opula tion inc luding th r e ats, sel ect ive  ki lli n g s,  forced
displ a c emen t,  recrui tme nt or i lli cit  us e o fchildrenand adol es ce nt s,  an d int i midation 
a ndte rro r, es p eciall y aga inst  t he lea ders of th e comm un it y ac tio ncounc ilsa ndpeasant  associat ion s  whi ch  a re decl ared as milit ar y objectiv es  by  thisa r med
grou p.[251]

A state offici a l in Vi sta hermo sa s aid thatCuc hillo’ s
p e ople h ad beg un en te rin g the a r e ainsi gnificantn u mbe rs in  O ctob er 2008 .[252]

Vistahermo s a r esidents cons ist entl y sa idt ha t  th er e  wa s a
group that an swered toCu c hi llo in the reg io n, that  it was  thre a teningand
killi ng people ,andt h atits member s oftenaccused r e siden t sof be ing 
guerr il las , orspokeo f t heirpursui tof gue rrill as .

For e xample, residents of th e town  of S ant o Domingo , n e arVistaherm osa,  Meta, sai d t hat  memb ers of su cces s or  gr o ups w ho s o metimes c a ll edt h em selves Blac k E agl es, b utw ho wor kedfor Cuchillo, had arrived in the ir t o w n
i n l a te 2 00 8. The members  ha df o rced coc agrowers tosell toth e m, an d were 
alsothreate n i ng people , fo rci ng the co mmu ni t y to fe ed  t h em and  kil li ng peo ple.
A c cord i n g to one communi ty me m b er: “ i t’s  over  c ontrolo f te rritory.
T hey’re from  the s outh  of B olivar[d epartm ent ]. .. and the y  say they  work 
for Cu ch illo . T hey dr essi n  blac k
icencio. Puerto_Rico and_Vistahermosa
have a strong presence_of the_Colombian_army, with_checkpoints_along the roads
and_large military bases._Yet Human Rights Watch_received multiple reports_of
successor_groups, apparently under Cuchillo’s command, operating in the
area, threatening and killing civilians. In the_municipality_of Vistahermosa,
in_particular,_residents_consistently reported that men calling_themselves the
“Black Eagles,” who said_they worked_for Cuchillo, were operating
in the region and threatening_civilians._In an October_2008 follow-up note to
its risk report, the EWS warned_of:

the consolidation of the expansion project_of the
paramilitary group_known_as_the “Cuchillos”... in a_strategy that
has focused on cutting the_territorial, economic, and transit circuit considered
strategic_by the FARC fronts that maintain influence_in rural areas of Puerto
Rico and_Vistahermosa, with the similar objective_of controlling_zones of coca
production and trade._This has been_reflected in_a spiral of_violence against
the civilian population including threats,_selective killings, forced
displacement,_recruitment or illicit use of children_and_adolescents, and intimidation
and_terror,_especially_against the_leaders of the_community_action councils_and
peasant_associations which are declared as military_objectives_by this armed
group.[251]

A state official in Vistahermosa_said that Cuchillo’s
people had_begun_entering the area in_significant numbers in October 2008.[252]

Vistahermosa_residents consistently said that there was_a
group that_answered to_Cuchillo in the region, that it was threatening and
killing people, and_that its members often accused residents_of being
guerrillas, or spoke_of their_pursuit_of guerrillas.

For example,_residents_of the_town of Santo Domingo, near
Vistahermosa, Meta, said_that members_of successor groups who sometimes called
themselves_Black Eagles, but who_worked_for Cuchillo, had arrived in their_town
in late 2008. The members had_forced coca growers to sell_to_them,_and were
also threatening people, forcing_the community to feed them and_killing people.
According to_one community member: “it’s over control of_territory.
They’re_from the south of Bolivar [department]..._and_they say they work
for Cuchillo. They_dress_in_black