Olga Lucía Castillo says her daughter was sexually assaulted by U.S. military personnel, who have received absolute impunity due to Colombia-U.S. bilateral agreements.
This week, the U.S. media repeatedly told the story of the Drug Enforcement Administration agents who had “sex parties” with prostitutes hired by drug cartels in Colombia. Ten DEA agents admitted attending the parties, and some of the agents received suspensions of two to 10 days.
But the media did not do justice to the story of fifty-four under-age Colombian girls who were sexually assaulted by American troops and contractors stationed in Colombia, serving under Plan Colombia, between 2003 and 2007, according to a new report by the Historical Commission of the Conflict and its Victims.
The abuses allegedly happened in military bases in Melgar and Tolemaida.
Colombian prosecutors could not make arrests because of immunity agreements made between the U.S. and Colombia.
‘There exists abundant information about the sexual violence, in absolute impunity thanks to the bilateral agreements and the diplomatic immunity of United States officials,’ scholar Renan Vega said.
In once case, on August 26, 2007, two American military personnel — allegedly U.S. sergeant Michael J. Coen and defense contractor Cesar Ruiz — drugged the 12-year-old daughter of Olga Lucía Castillo, kidnapped her, and drove her from a nightclub in Melgar, Tolima, to the nearby military base. The victim said she had stopped at the nightclub to use the bathroom.
Coen and Ruiz reportedly filmed the abuse and sold the films as pornographic material. They were flown out of Colombia.
Meanwhile, the victim’s family received multiple death threats, and has repeatedly been forced to flee and resettle in different cities.
Talking About Colombia 
[…] Despite the report’s explosive revelations, the disclosures have received scant attention in the U.S. media, with no major outlets reporting the story. The website Talking About Colombia ruefully contrasts this silence to the avalanche of attention greeting recent news about DEA agents having held “sex parties” with prostitutes in the same country. […]
By: American Troops Allegedly Raped 54 Girls in Colombia. Why Haven't We Heard About It? | Bitch Media on April 6, 2015
at 11:05 am
if this story is true, then get in contact with her mother, and tell her to start an online petition here in the united states to get them prosecuted….people do it everyday and they are able to get bills approved and satisfaction for whatever the cause is that they are pursuing….this is a serious crime and should not be swept under the carpet…the men in the united states are raping and killing young children everyday, including babies…as mothers, we are responsible for all the children, whether we gave them life, or not…it is still our responsibility to let children know they are safe…
By: b.j.d. on April 2, 2015
at 2:42 pm
https://talkingaboutcolombia.com/2015/04/06/u-s-army-criminal-investigators-to-probe-allegations-of-sexual-abuse-of-colombian-minors/
Chris Grey, spokesman for the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command, told USA Today: “Special agents from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command are currently coordinating with Colombian authorities and will initiate an investigation into any credible allegations of sexual assault or criminal acts committed by U.S. soldiers while in that country.”
I absolutely agree with you — “..as mothers, we are responsible for all the children, whether we gave them life, or not…it is still our responsibility to let children know they are safe. ..” YES! You are wise, with a big heart.
By: Paula Delgado-Kling on April 6, 2015
at 9:59 am
[…] Continue reading at Talking About Colombia… […]
By: Deafening media silence on US military and contractors' sexual assault of 54 Colombian girls - Latin Correspondent on March 30, 2015
at 2:06 pm