Community leader Manuel Francisco Navarro Culma was reportedly
abducted in Barrancabermeja on 2 February, by gunmen believed to
be army-backed paramilitaries. His whereabouts are unknown, and
Amnesty International is seriously concerned for his safety.
According to witnesses, he was seen at 2pm in a place known as 'La
Rampa'. Three men in civilian clothing reportedly took him to the
Arenal neighborhood. The following day, at 10am, he was reportedly
seen near the football stadium, with men known to be members of the
paramilitary group Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), United
Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, who operate in the area. He was
seen again that day in different parts of the city, at 8pm and again at
9.30pm.
Manuel Francisco is a leader of the forcibly displaced community of
Cienaga del Opon. People from the community reported his
abduction shortly after it took place. The police called off the search
at 5pm, a few hours later.
Cienaga del Opon is an area about 25km to the north of
Barrancabermeja, department of Santander. Armed opposition
groups are fighting for control of the area with the army and their
paramilitary allies. In November 2000, the conflict forced
approximately 126 families who live there to flee their homes. Since
then they have been living in Barrancabermeja.
According to press reports, 20 of these displaced families began
returning to Cienaga del Opon on 3 February to rebuild the
community's homes and their lives. This process is being assisted by
governmental and non-governmental organizations. Forcibly
displaced communities and their leaders are frequently labelled as
guerrilla collaborators by the security forces and their paramilitary
allies. These accusations have often been followed by serious human
rights violations committed by the latter. Displaced communities who
have been forced to abandon military or economically strategic areas
have frequently faced threats and human rights violations when they
have sought to return to their abandoned lands.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly
as possible:
- expressing concern for the safety of Manuel Francisco Navarro
Culma, who was reportedly abducted by army-backed paramilitaries
in Barrancabermeja on 2 February, and urging the authorities to find
out where he is;
- urging the authorities to order a full and impartial investigation into
his 'disappearance', to publish the results and bring those responsible
to justice;
- expressing serious concern for the safety of people from Cienega
del Opon, who have recently begun returning to their homes;
- urging the authorities to take all measures that the communities
themselves deem appropriate to guarantee their safety;
- expressing concern that the government and its security forces have
taken no effective action against paramilitary groups in the
department of Santander, despite repeated 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 those found
responsible for supporting and participating in such groups are
brought to justice.
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
Telex: 396 44281 PALP CO
Fax: 011 57 1 566 20 71
Salutation: Excelentisimo Sr. Presidente/Dear President
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
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 / 633 9666
Salutation: Dear Governor / Sr. Gobernador
COPIES TO:
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
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 19, 2002.
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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