URGENT ACTION APPEAL
Go to http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/newslett.html
to read this month's newsletter.
27 February 2002
UA 62/02 Fear for Safety/Possible 'disappearance'
COLOMBIA Gilberto Torres Martinez (m) - trade union leader
Other members of the Oil Worker's Union (USO),
Monterrey Municipality, Department of Casanare
Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the safety of
members of the Oil Worker's Union (USO), in Monterrey Municipality,
Department of Casanare and Gilberto Torres Martinez, a trade union
leader who has not been seen since he was reportedly abducted by
army-backed paramilitaries on
25 February.
According to information received, at approximately 6:00pm, Gilberto
Torres Martinez left his place of work at the Estacion Porvenir del
Oleoducto Central de los Llanos, Porvenir Station of the Llanos
Central Oil-pipeline, Monterrey Municipality, to go home. He was
reportedly abducted by several heavily-armed men thought to be
members of the Bloque Centauros de las Autodefensas Unidas de
Colombia, (AUC), Centauros Bloc of the United Self-Defence Groups
of Colombia, who reportedly took him away in the direction of Puerto
Lopez Municipality in the neighbouring department of Meta.
Amnesty International's concern for the safety of Gilberto Torres
Martinez is heightened by the fact that USO activists have frequently
been the target of death threats and serious human rights violations
carried out by paramilitary forces allied to the security forces. In
December 2001 Aury Sara Marrugo and his bodyguard Enrique
Arellano were forcibly abducted by paramilitaries and subsequently
killed. (UA 309/01 issued 3 December 2001 and re-issued 6
December 2001). Concern is further heightened because the
paramilitaries were able to forcibly abduct Gilberto Torres Martinez
despite the presence of a Colombian Army base near the Porvenir oil
installations and the fact that the army maintains checkpoints along
the roads by the oil installations.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This kidnapping follows other recent threats and killings against USO
trade unionists over the last year. (UA 170/01 issued 10 July 2001;
UA 230/01 issued 12 September 2001 and follow-ups) as well as the
arrest of six USO leaders by the security forces on 19 October. The
security and armed forces as well as their paramilitary allies often
accuse trade unionists of being guerrilla sympathizers or auxiliaries.
In addition, paramilitaries frequently harass, torture and kill trade
unionists. In 2001, around 160 trade unionists have been killed and at
least 68 'disappeared'. During 2000, 112 trade union leaders and
members were murdered. In December 2000, a leading trade union
leader, Wilson Borja Diaz, had to flee Colombia after he was shot and
wounded by gunmen (UA 387/00 issued 21 December 2000). Several
active and retired police officers have been linked to the attack by
judicial investigations.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly
as possible:
- urging the authorities to order an independent, impartial and
conclusive investigation into the possible 'disappearance' of Gilberto
Torres Martinez and for those responsible to be brought to justice;
- urging that the authorities undertake immediate action to guarantee
the safety of Gilberto Torres Martinez;
-expressing concern for the safety of USO and other trade union
activists in Casanare and nationally following the possible
'disappearance' of Gilberto Torres Martinez;
- 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 links between the
security forces and paramilitary groups operating in the department of
Casanare urging that the results are made public and those found
responsible for supporting and participating in such groups are
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:
President of the Republic:
Senor Presidente Andres Pastrana Arango
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Narino
Carrera 8 No.7-26
Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 011 57 1 566 2071
Salutation: Dear President Pastrana Arango / Excmo. Sr.
Presidente Pastrana Arango
Minister of Interior:
Sr. Armando Estrada Villa
Ministro del Interior
Ministerio del Interior
Palacio Echeverry
Carrera 8a, No.8-09, piso 2o.
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Telegrams: Ministro Interior, Bogota, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 562 5298 (if someone answers say 'me da
tono de fax por favor')
Salutation: Dear Sir / Sr. Ministro
Commander of the Armed Forces:
General Fernando Tapias Stahelin,
Comandante General de las Fuerzas Militares
Avenida El Dorado - Carrera 52,
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Telegrams: Comandante Fuerzas Militares, Bogota, Colombia
Fax: 011 57 1 222 2096
Salutation: Dear Commander Tapias Stahelin / Sr. General
Tapias Stahelin
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 April 10, 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