The growth of the paramilitary groups, in the pay of narcotics traffickers and large landowners and protected by the military, is out of control. Athough since taking office Pastrana has sacked four generals accused of paramilitary ties, government efforts to sever ties to the right-wing militia remain tepid, and these groups operate freely at the local level. In May 1999, police shut down a huge paramilitary drug laboratory. Left-wing guerrillas, some of whom also protect narcotics production facilities and drug traffickers, also systematically violate human rights, with victims including Sunday churchgoers and airline passengers. The FARC guerrillas also regularly extort payments from hundreds of businessmen throughout the country.
All sides operate with a high degree of impunity.
Journalists are frequently the victims of political and revenge violence. More than 120 journalists have been murdered in the past decade, and many were killed for reporting on drug trafficking and corruption. Another category of killings is known as social cleansing the elimination of drug addicts, street children, and other marginal citizens by vigilante groups often linked to police. There are approximately 80 distinct ethnic groups among Colombia s 800,000-plus indigenous inhabitants. These Native Americans are frequently the targets of violence despite their seeking to remain neutral in the armed conflict.