URGENT ACTION APPEAL
Go to http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/newslett.html
to read this month's newsletter.
24 July 2002
UA 233/02 Fear for safety
COLOMBIA Peasant community from 'La Galleta' farm in
Montebello municipality , Department of Antioquia
Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the safety of the
peasant community of 'La Galleta' farm worked by members of the
political party Corriente de Renovacion Socialista (CRS), Socialist
Renovation Movement in Montebello Municipality, Antioquia
Department, following an increasing number of attacks by army-
backed paramilitaries. These attacks have resulted in the killing of 11
peasants from the community in recent months.
On 1 March, an army-backed paramilitary group reportedly raided
houses close to 'La Galleta' and abducted five peasants from the
community. Two days later, the bodies of the five peasants were
found. Marks on their bodies indicated that they had been tortured.
On 17 March, another peasant from the community was reportedly
killed.
During July, there were further attacks against the community. On 15
July four peasants were reportedly massacred. The most recent
victim, Hector de Jesus Ayala, whose family has been displaced from
'La Galleta' because of death threats against them, was reportedly
taken from his home on 16 July and the following day his body was
found, showing signs of torture. Previous requests for protection
measures for Hector de Jesus Ayala had reportedly been ignored,
despite the fact that he was an important witness in legal proceedings
involving members the of the armed forces.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
'La Galleta' farm was given to families of the CRS, a breakaway
faction of the armed opposition group Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional
(ELN), Army of National Liberation. The CRS became a legal
movement after signing a peace agreement with the government in
1994. The security forces and their paramilitary allies have frequently
accused former guerrillas, such as CRS members, of being guerrilla
collaborators or sympathizers; accusations which have often led to
'disappearances', killings and other serious human rights violations.
In January 2000 paramilitaries abducted two CRS members in ' La
Galleta' farm, who subsequently 'disappeared'. ( UA 18/00 issued 25
January 2000 and re-issued 2 February 2000)
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly
as possible:
- expressing concern for the safety of all CRS members on La Galleta
farm and urging that all measures deemed appropriate by them be
taken to guarantee their safety;
- calling on the authorities to immediately launch a comprehensive
and impartial investigation into the deaths of the 11 peasants, to
make public its results, and bring those responsible to justice;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into links between the
armed forces and illegal paramilitary groups in the department of
Antioquia, for the results to be made public and for those responsible
for supporting and participating in such groups to be brought to
justice;
- 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
Sr. Presidente Andres Pastrana
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Narino, Carrera 8 No. 7-26
Santafe de Bogota
Colombia
Telegram: President Pastrana, Bogota, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 566 2071
Salutation: Dear President Pastrana / Excelentisimo Sr.
Presidente Pastrana
Attorney General:
Dr. Luis Camilo Osorio,
Fiscal General de la Nacion
Fiscalia General de la Nacion,
Apartado Aereo 29855, Diagonal 22B 52-01 (Ciudad Salite),
Santafe de Bogota
Colombia
Telegram: Fiscal General, Bogota, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 570 2022/2003 (if someone answers say
'me da tono de fax por favor')
Salutation: Dear Dr. Osorio / Estimado Dr. Osorio
Governor of Antioquia Department:
Sr. Eugenio Preto Soto (e)
Governador del Department de Antioquia
Gobernacion de Antioquia
Calle 42B, # 52-106,
Medellin, Antioquia
Colombia
Telegram: Governador de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 4 381 1111
Salutation: Dear Governor / Sr. Governador
COPIES TO:
Human Rights Organization:
Corporacion Colectivo de Abogados 'Jose Alvear Restrepo'
Apartado Aereo 33035,
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 September 4, 2002.
Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement
that promotes and defends human rights.
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