Go to http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/newslett.html
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28 January 2002
Further information on UA 04/02 issued 4 January 2002 and re-
issued 16 January 2002 - Fear for Safety/Possible Disappearance
COLOMBIA The civilian population of the Catatumbo
region, including Luis Alberto Cano (m), aged 18
New names: Daniel Pallares (m)
Eliceo Canonigo Contreras (m), aged 20
Jose Noe Ballena (m), aged 18
Two other young men
11 inhabitants of 77 hamlet, El Tarra
municipality
Killed: Johonny Gutierrez (m), Jose Noe Gutierrez (m),
David Quintero (m) and his sons Hugo, Daniel and Dairo Quintero
Army-backed paramilitary groups have reportedly abducted 16
people and killed at least six others in the Catatumbo region. The
army have taken no decisive action, and the civilian population
remain in grave danger.
Daniel Pallares was reportedly abducted on 16 January by a
paramilitary group based in the rural area near the town of
Convencion, while driving a truck towards the hamlet of Trinidad y
Guasiles in the Convencion municipality.
On 20 January another paramilitary group reportedly abducted Eliceo
Canonigo Contreras, Jose Noe Ballena and two other young men in
the Campana hamlet, El Tarra municipality. Their whereabouts
remain unknown.
That day paramilitaries abducted a further 11 people from another
hamlet in El Tarra, called '77', who are still in their hands. They were
able to do this unhindered although there is an army base only 8km
away in Filo del Gringo.
Johonny Gutierrez and Jose Noe Gutierrez were reportedly killed by
paramilitary groups operating in Teorama on 12 January. On 20
January David Quintero and his sons Hugo, Daniel and Dairo were
reportedly killed in the Trinidad hamlet, Convencion municipality.
Civilians forced to flee their homes in the municipalities of Teorama,
Convencion and El Tarra are still arriving in Ocana and Convencion
town centres. According to a number of witnesses in the region, an
army lieutenant based in the Convencion municipality has been seen
together with paramilitaries.
Amnesty International is concerned that although the army have a
heavy presence in the region, and have been alerted repeatedly to
paramilitary incursions, they have taken no decisive action to prevent
paramilitaries from attacking civilians and consolidating their position
in the area.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to
arrive as quickly as possible:
- expressing concern for the safety of the civilian population in El
Tarra, Teorama and Convencion, Norte de Santander Department,
and the rest of the Catatumbo region, and asking what the
government and armed forces will do to protect them;
- expressing concern for the safety of Daniel Pallares, Eliceo
Canonigo Contreras, Jose Noe Ballena and two other young men
reportedly abducted by paramilitary groups;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into the reported killing of
Johonny Gutierrez, Jose Noe Gutierrez, David, Hugo, Daniel and
Dairo Quintero and for those responsible to be brought to justice;
- expressing concern for the safety of the 11 people reportedly
abducted by paramilitaries and used as human shields in El Tarra
municipality on 20 January, calling for a full and impartial
investigation and for those responsible to be brought to justice;
- expressing concern that the government and armed forces have
failed to protect the civilian population of the department of Norte de
Santander and the Catatumbo region and to combat paramilitary
groups in the area, despite repeated warnings of impending
paramilitary attacks;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into links between the
security forces and paramilitary groups in the department of Norte de
Santander, 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:
Commander of the V Brigade:
General Martin Orlando Carreno Sandoval
Comandante de la V Brigada
Calle 14, Carrera 33, Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia
Telegram: Comandante de la V Brigada, Bucaramanga,
Santander, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 76 455051 / 351493 / 359189 / 334390
Salutation: Dear Commander Carreno Sandoval / Sr. General
Carreno Sandoval
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 2000
Salutation: Dear Dr. Osorio / Estimado Dr. Osorio
National Advocate for the People:
Sr. Eduardo Cifuentes Munoz
Defensor del Pueblo, Defensoria del Pueblo,
Calle 55, No. 10-32/46 office 301,
Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA
Telegram: National Advocate, Bogota, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 640 0491
Salutation: Dear Mr. Cifuentes Munoz / Estimado Sr. Cifuentes
Munoz
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: Dear President Pastrana / Excelentisimo Sr.
Presidente Pastrana
COPIES TO:
Non-governmental human rights organization:
MINGA
AA 40303,
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 March 11, 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