6 December 2001
Further information on UA 309/01 issued 3 December 2001 - Fear for
Safety/possible 'disappearance'
 
COLOMBIA
Killed: Aury Sara Marrugo (m), President of Union Sindical Obrera
(USO), Oil Workers' Trade Union, Cartagena Section
  Enrique Arellano (m), his bodyguard

 

 

Trade Union leader Aury Sara Marrugo and his bodyguard, Enrique

Arellano were found dead on a road outside Cartagena on 5

December. They had been shot several times.

 

Both were kidnapped on 30 November by members of the army-

backed paramilitary group Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC),

United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, though it was not known

until the day before the bodies were found, that Enrique Arellano had

also been kidnapped. The AUC reportedly admitted to the abduction

of Aury Sara Marrugo, whom they said would face a paramilitary trial

for his alleged membership of Colombia's second largest armed

opposition group, the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional, (ELN), National

Liberation Army.

 

The security and armed forces as well as their paramilitary allies

often accuse trade unionists of being guerrilla sympathizers or

auxiliaries. At least 147 trade unionists have been killed so far this

year.

 

Many thanks to all who took action on this case. If possible, please

send a final round of appeals:

- urging the authorities to order an independent, impartial and

conclusive investigation into the killing of Aury Sara Marrugo and

Enrique Arellano and for those responsible to be brought to justice;

-expressing concern for the safety of USO and other trade union

activists in Cartagena and nationally following the killing of Aury Sara

Marrugo and Enrique Arellano;

- asking the authorities what measures, deemed appropriate by those

under threat themselves, they are going to take to guarantee the

safety of those at risk;

- urging the authorities to take immediate action to dismantle

paramilitary groups, in line with stated government commitments and

recommendations made by the UN and other intergovernmental

organizations.

 

APPEALS TO:

President of Colombia:

Senor Presidente Andres Pastrana

Presidente de la Republica

Palacio de Narino

Carrera 8 No. 7-26

Santafe de Bogota, Colombia

Telegrams: President Pastrana, Bogota, Colombia

Fax: 011 57 1 566 20 71

Salutation: Excelentisimo Sr. Presidente/Dear President

 

Attorney General:

Dr. Luis Camilo Osorio

Fiscalia General de la Nacion

Apartado Aereo 29855

Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA

Telegrams: Attorney General, Bogota, Colombia

Fax: 011 57 1 570 2000

Salutation: Estimado Dr./Dear Dr.

 

Governor of the Department of Bolivar:

Sr. Luis Daniel Vargas Sanchez

Gobernacion de Bolivar

Calle 34 No. 4-21

Cartagena, Bolivar, COLOMBIA

Telegrams: Governor, Bolivar, Colombia

Fax: 011 57 5 365 1594

Salutation: Estimado Sr.Gobernador/Dear Governor

 

COPIES TO:

Trade Union Confederation

CUT, Nacional

Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Colombia

Calle 35 N0 7-25, Piso 9

Santafe de Bogota, Colombia

 

Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno

Embassy of Colombia

2118 Leroy Pl. NW

Washington DC 20008

Fax: 1 202 232 8643

 

 

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 January 17, 2002.

 

Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement

that promotes and defends human rights.

 

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.

 

Urgent Action Network

Amnesty International USA

PO Box 1270

Nederland CO 80466-1270

Email: uan@aiusa.org

http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/

Phone: 303 258 1170

Fax: 303 258 7881