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28 January 2002
Further information on UA 22/01 originally issued 29 January 2001
and re-issued 8 March 26 March; 8 June; 7 September; 12
November; 20 November; 19 December - Fear for safety
COLOMBIA
Patricia Ramirez (f), member of the Organizacion Femenina Popular
(OFP), Popular Women's Organization in Barrancabermeja,
Santander department
Army-backed paramilitaries abducted OFP member Patricia Ramirez
on 19 January in Barrancabermeja. They released her a few hours
later when the security forces began to search for her, but Amnesty
International remains gravely concerned for her safety.
A group of men who said they were members of the Autodefensas
Unidas de Colombia (AUC), United Self-Defense Force of Colombia,
reportedly entered Patricia Ramirez's mother's house at 7pm, and
abducted both women. They were reportedly brought to the
commander of the AUC's suroriental (south-eastern branch), who
operate in the area.
Her colleagues at the Organizacion Femenina Popular (OFP),
Popular Women's Organization, and other human rights
organizations, reported what had happened, and the Civilian
Intelligence Service, Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad
(DAS), reportedly began a search of the area where the women were
being held. The AUC reportedly set the women free when they heard
that the DAS were in the area.
Patricia Ramirez and other OFP members face continuous threats,
harassment and attack from paramilitary groups, because of their
refusal to give up their work in defence of human rights despite the
paramilitaries' attempts to take control of the region.
Many thanks to all who have sent appeals. Amnesty International will
continue to campaign on behalf of the OFP, and will issue further
Urgent Actions when necessary. Please send a final round of appeals
to arrive as quickly as possible:
- urging the authorities to take appropriate action to protect Patricia
Ramirez and other members of the Organizacion Femenina Popular,
so they can continue their legitimate work for the defence and
promotion of human rights without fear of attack or intimidation;
- calling for an immediate, impartial and full investigation into the
abduction of Patricia Ramirez and her mother on 19 January, and for
those responsible to be brought to justice;
- urging the government to adhere to its obligations regarding human
rights defenders, as laid out in United Nation and Organization of
American States declarations, and in line with the UN's repeated
recommendations that they should take measures to guarantee the
safety of human rights defenders;
- expressing concern that the government has taken no effective
action against paramilitary groups in the Barrancabermeja area,
despite their own commitments and UN recommendations to combat
and dismantle these groups;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into links between the
security forces and paramilitary groups operating in the department of
Santander, urging that the results are made public, and that those
responsible for supporting and participating in such groups are
brought to justice.
APPEALS TO:
Minister of the Interior:
Dr. Armando Estrada Villa,
Ministro del Interior, Ministerio del Interior,
Palacio Echeverry, Carrera 8a, No.8-09, piso 2o.,
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Telegram: Ministro Interior, Bogota, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 562 5298/ 562 9890
Salutation: Dear Minister Estrada Villa/Sr. Ministro Estrada Villa
Minister of Defense:
Dr. Gustavo Bell
Ministro de Defensa Nacional, Ministerio de Defensa Nacional
Avenida Eldorado CAN - Carrera 52,Oficina 217, Santafe de Bogota,
Colombia
Telegram: Ministro de Defensa, Bogota, Colombia
Telex: 396 42411 INPRE CO; 396 44561 CFAC CO
Fax: 011 57 1 222 1874
Salutation: Dear Minister Bell/Sr. Ministro Bell
Governor of Santander Department:
Sr. Jorge Eliecer Gomez Villamizar
Gobernador del Departamento de Santander
Gobernacion de Santander
Calle 37, No. 10-30
Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia
Telegram: Gobernador Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 76 339889
Salutation: Dear Governor Gomez Villamizar/Sr. Gobernador Gomez
Villamizar
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
Telex: 396 44281 PALP CO
Fax: 011 57 1 566 20 71
Salutation: Excelentisimo Sr. Presidente Pastrana/Dear
President Pastrana
COPIES TO:
Women's grassroots organization:
Organizacion Femenina Popular
Cra 22 No 52B - 36
Barrancabermeja
Santander, Colombia
Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno
Embassy of Colombia
2118 Leroy Pl. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 232 8643
Check with the Colorado office between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm,
Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending appeals after March 11,
2002.
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