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