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* Agencia de Noticias Nueva Colombia * Nyhetsbyrån Nya Colombia * Agence de nouvelles Nueva Colombia * Agenzia di Notizie Nueova Colombia E-mail: ann.col@swipnet.se
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U R G E N T A C T I O N A P P E A L 26 August 1999 Fear for safetyAlfredo Molano, Alejandro Reyes Posada, Patricia Lara, Arturo Alape, Fabricio Lopez - journalistsAliro Uribe, Javier Giraldo, Gabriel Izquierdo, Hector Mondragon - human rights defenders Hernando Hernandez - trade union leader Jaime Caycedo - president of Communist party Pablo Elias Gonzalez - Head of human rights unit of Attorney General's Office Alvaro Leyva Duran, Omar Garcia, Libardo Ramces Pinilla Rueda, Jose Galvis, Nolasco Presiga, Gregorio Oviedo Oviedo, Gilberto Medina and Alfredo Colmenares Chia and Jairo Enrique Rojas Pulido Amnesty International is gravely concerned for the safety of those named above, whose names are on a lista negra, blacklist, circulated in central Bogota on 23 August 1999. In the present human rights crisis in Colombia, such lists are public death threats and have frequently been followed by attacks on those named. The people listed include politicians, journalists, writers, human rights defenders and a senior official with the Attorney General's Office. The majority have been active in recent months in trying to break the deadlock in the peace process between the Colombian government and the two main armed opposition groups. The list accuses them of worsening Colombia's armed conflict and of inciting hatred. It was signed by the Ejercito Rebelde Colombiano, Rebel Army of Colombia. Some of those named on the list have already left the country after previous death threats. On 13 August the nationally renowned satirist and journalist, Jaime Garzon, was gunned down on his way to work. He had recently joined a special commission whose task was to mediate between the government and the armed opposition group, Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN), National Liberation Army, in restarting peace talks. In the days before his death he had received a number of death threats accusing him of collaborating with the armed opposition. His killing caused national outrage and has led to widespread allegations that hardline elements within the military, particularly army intelligence, were involved in the murder and are intent on destroying the peace process. The army has denied any involvement. Amnesty International is concerned that those responsible for the death
of Jaime Garzon may be intending to carry out a campaign of terror against
anyone associated with the peace process.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION The spiralling conflict between the Colombian Armed Forces and their paramilitary allies and left-wing armed opposition groups has claimed the lives of over 30,000 civilians in the last 10 years. In 1998 Andres Pastrana's government began peace processes with the two major armed opposition groups. However, in recent months these talks have stalled and violence continues to escalate alarmingly. The killing of Jaime Garzon and the appearance of the new lista negra appear to be part of a strategy of terror intended to frustrate efforts to restart the peace process. There have been a number of high profile extrajudicial executions in recent years in which members of the armed forces, particularly army intelligence, have been implicated. Although some steps have been taken over the years to purge military officials linked to paramilitary groups, there is still concern that hardline elements remain within or close to the armed forces. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send faxes/express/airmail letters:
- urging the government to take immediate steps to guarantee the safety of those people named on the list who have not already left the country, as well as all other people who have publicly worked to advance the peace process; - calling for an immediate investigation into the death threats, for the results to be made public and those responsible to be brought to justice; - deploring the killing of Jaime Garzon and calling for a full, prompt and impartial investigation into his killing, for the results to be made public and for all those responsible to be brought to justice. APPEALS TO:
Dear President Pastrana: Telegrams: President Pastrana, Bogota, Colombia
Minister of the Interior:
Dear Minister: Telegrams: Ministerio del Interior, Bogota, Colombia
Commander of the Army:
Dear Commander: Telegrams: Comandante del Ejercito, Bogota, Colombia
COPIES TO: Attorney General:
Fiscal General de la Nacion
Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno
Please send appeals immediately. Check with the Colorado office between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending appeals after October 7, 1999. This information is from Amnesty International's research headquarters in London, England. A.I. is an independent worldwide movement working for the international protection of human rights. It seeks the release of people detained because of their beliefs, color, sex, ethnic origin, language or religious creed, provided they have not used nor advocated violence. These are termed prisoners of conscience. It works for fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners and works on behalf of such people detained without charge or trial. It opposes the death penalty, extra-judicial executions (political killings), 'disappearances' and torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners without reservation. Amnesty International promotes awareness of and adherance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other internationally recognized human rights instruments, the values enshrined in them and the indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights and freedoms. Please do not repost this appeal to any part of the Internet without prior permission from Amnesty International. Thank you for your help with this appeal. Please read the monthly Urgent Action Network Newsletter posted on the web at: http://www.amnesty-USA.org/urgact/newslett.html Urgent Action Network
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