William Enrique Camelo Vega (m),
Luz Edelmira Rodriguez Reina (f),
Marleny Coronado (f),
Camilo Ernesto Moreno (m),
Edgar Pena (m),
Victoria Valencia (f),
Libardo Mochola (m),
Fredy Pedraza (m),
Hector Fabio Duque (m),
Eliodoro Pardo (m),
Gonzalo Garcia (m),
And other members of Asociacion de ocupantes de hecho de la
Reliquia (ASPROVIVIR), in La Reliquia camp, city of Villavicencio,
Meta Department
killed:
Luis Castro (m)
Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the safety of the
ASPROVIVIR members mentioned above, following the appearance
of their names on a 'death list' circulated in the city of Villavicencio,
Meta Department, on 6 February by unknown individuals. According
to reports, since then many of them have received death threats by
telephone and Luis Castro whose name was also on the list has been
killed.
Luis Castro was fatally shot by two unidentified gunmen on at 7.30pm
on 5 February. He had been an active member of ASPROVIVIR and
had been lobbying the Human Rights Unit of the Sectional Attorney
General's Office to investigate the murder of Evert Encizo Sandoval,
member of the Comite de Impulso de la Asamblea por la Paz del
Meta, Meta Peace Assembly Pressure Group Meta, who was killed in
August 2001. Two other people named on the list, Marley Coronado
and Luz Edelmira Rodriguez, are also witnesses in the investigation.
Human Rights Defenders in Villavicencio, Meta Department have also
received death threats. In the last few days three human rights
defenders were forced to flee the area in fear for their safety.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
La Reliquia is a camp of approximately 3500 internally displaced
families in the city of Villavicencio. Displaced communities frequently
suffer serious human rights violations at the hands of the security
forces and their paramilitary allies, who try to silence them and
prevent them from bringing their plight to international attention. In
October 2000, paramilitary forces reportedly killed at least four
displaced people, who had sought shelter in Villavicencio (UA 325/00
issued 25 October 2000). In August 2001 the displaced community in
La Reliquia camp was shaken when six of its members were killed in
several attacks. Evert Encizo Sandoval, whose case is still pending
investigation, was one of the victims. Forcibly displaced people are
often labeled as guerrilla sympathizers or collaborators, thereby
providing the security forces and their paramilitary allies with an
excuse for targeting them. Organizations working with the displaced
communities have also been targeted.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly
as possible:
- expressing concern for the safety of the ASPROVIVIR members
named above, and other displaced people sheltering in Villavicencio,
especially those at the La Reliquia camp;
- urging the authorities to taking all steps deemed appropriate by
those under threat to guarantee their safety;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into death threats against
ASPROVIVIR members and for the results to be made public;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into links between the
security forces and paramilitary groups operating in the department of
Meta, urging that the results are made public, and that those
responsible for supporting and participating in such groups are
brought to justice;
- urging the authorities to take immediate and decisive action to
combat and dismantle paramilitary groups, in line with repeated
government commitments and United Nations recommendations;
- urging the Colombian government to adhere to its obligations
regarding human rights defenders, as laid out in the UN Declaration
on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of
Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms adopted on 9 December 1998,
the Organization of American States Human Rights Defenders in the
Americas resolution adopted on 7 June 1999 [AG/RES. 1671 (XXIX-
O/99)] and in line with repeated recommendations made by the UN to
the Colombian government to take measures to guarantee the safety
of human rights defenders.
APPEALS TO:
President of the Republic:
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
Minister of Interior:
Dr. Armando Estrada Villa,
Ministro del Interior
Ministerio del Interior,
Palacio Echeverry
Carrera 8a, No.8-09, piso 2o.,
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Telegram: Ministro Interior, Bogota, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 562 5298/ 562 9890 / 286 0053 / 566 2477 /
566 3214
Salutation: Dear Sir / Sr. Ministro
Governor of Meta Department:
Luis Carlos Torres Rueda,
Gobernador del Departamento del Meta
Gobernacion del Meta,
Carrera 33 No. 38-45,
Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia
Telegrams: Gobernador Meta, Villavicencio, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 986 625424
Salutation: Dear Governor / Sr. Gobernador
COPIES TO:
National Advocate for the People:
Sr. Eduardo Cifuentes
Defensor del Pueblo
Defensoria del Pueblo
Calle 55, No. 10-32/46
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
UN High Commissioner for Refugees:
Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para Refugiados (ACNUR)
Calle 114 No.9-01 Edificio Teleport Torre A Oficina 601
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 29, 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