URGENT ACTION APPEAL
Go to www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/newslett.html
to read this month's newsletter.
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2 July 2003
UA 193/03 Fear for safety
COLOMBIA
Street traders in the municipality of
Pereira, department of Risaralda
Killed: Jhon Jairo (m)
Yony Torres Henao (f)
Jorge (m)
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of street-
sellers in the municipality of Pereira, department of
Risaralda, after receiving reports of a number of threats,
killings and beatings of street traders in recent weeks.
On 17 June, municipal officials and police officers in
Pereira reportedly confiscated the merchandise of street
trader Jhon Alirio Carmona Bonilla and beat him. This was
allegedly the fourth time he had had his goods confiscated
this year. On 20 June, Jhon Jairo was reportedly beaten by
municipal officials. He was taken to hospital and died of
his injuries on 24 June. These incidents are the latest in a
series of beatings and killings of street traders. On 8 May,
municipal officials and police officers reportedly assaulted
female street traders Argenis Ramirez and Yolanda
Restrepo. On 10 May, two men, Jhovarry Ferney Catano
Gonzalez and Helmer Morales, were also allegedly beaten
by municipal officials and police.
On 5 May, street trader Yony Torres Henao was stabbed to
death by unknown assailants in an area of Pereira known as
La Carrilera. On the same day a street trader known as
Jorge was found dead in the La Balastera area. He had been
shot in the head.
These beatings and threats follow a ruling by the Mayor's
Office of the municipality of Pereira, issued in November
2002, to remove street traders from the centre of Pereira,
apparently as part of a municipal ''urban renewal plan''.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to
arrive as quickly as possible:
- expressing concern for the safety of street traders of the
municipality of Pereira, department of Risaralda, after at
least three street traders were killed and a number of other
street traders were reportedly beaten by municipal officials
and police officers;
- 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;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into these
threats, killings and beatings and for the results to be made
public and those responsible brought to justice.
APPEALS TO:
Mayor of Pereira Municipality:
Marta Elena Bedoya Redon
Alcaldia de Pereira
Carrera 7 18-55, Piso 4
Pereira, Risaralda,
Colombia
Telegram: Alcaldesa de Pereira, Pereira, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 6 333 98 55
Salutation : Dear Madam / Estimada Sra. Alcaldesa
Director of the National Police:
Mayor General Teodoro Campo Gomez
Transversal 45 # 40 -11 Piso 5, CAN
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Telegram: Director de la Policia Nacional, Bogota,
Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 428 76 34
Salutation: Dear Sir/ Estimado Director de la Policia
Nacional
President of the Republic:
Senor Presidente Alvaro Uribe Velez
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Narino
Carrera 8 No.7-26
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Telegram: Presidente de la Republica, Bogota,
Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 342 0592
Salutation: Dear President Uribe/ Excmo. Sr.
Presidente Uribe
COPIES TO:
Procurator General:
Dr. Edgardo Maya Villazon
Procuraduria General de la Nacion
Carrera 5, No. 15-80
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 342 9723
Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno
Embassy of Colombia
2118 Leroy Pl. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 232 8643
Email: emwas@colombiaemb.org
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
August 13, 2003.
Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots
movement that promotes and defends human
rights.
This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept
intact, including contact information and stop
action date (if applicable). 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
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL