Please read the monthly Urgent Action Network Newsletter posted 
on the web at: http://www.amnesty-USA.org/urgact/newslett.html 

Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
PO Box 1270
Nederland CO 80466-1270
Email: sharriso@aiusa.org
http://www.amnesty-usa.org/urgact/
Phone: 303 440 0913
Fax:303 258 7881
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Please write on behalf of these people even though you may not have 
received the original UA when issued on 19 May and again on 5 June 
98.  Thanks!

14 July 1998

Further information on UA 156/98 issued 19 May 1998 and follow-up 
issued 5 June 1998 - 'Disappearance', Fear for safety, Extrajudicial 
execution

COLOMBIA                

Members of human rights organization, CREDHOS, in the department of 
Santanter

There is heightened concern for the safety of workers with the 
Corporacion Regional de Derechos Humanos (CREDHOS), Regional 
Human Rights Corporation, after a paramilitary organization 
responsible for the mass killing of more than 25 residents in the town 
of Barrancabermeja, Santander Department, declared the human 
rights organization to be a military target.

In a communique issued by the Autodefensas de Santander y Sur del 
Cesar (AUSAC), Self-Defence Forces of Santander and Southern 
Cesar, the paramilitary group accuses CREDHOS of acting on behalf 
of the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN), National Liberation 
Army, an armed opposition group, and states that the human 
organization will be targeted by its forces. The paramilitary 
organization goes on to accuse all non governmental organizations of 
working on behalf of the armed opposition.

CREDHOS workers played a prominent role in denouncing the attack 
of 16 May 1998 (see original UA) by the AUSAC on districts of 
Barrancabermeja and the subsequent abduction and extrajudicial 
execution of at least 25 residents. The human rights organization also 
publicly denounced the reported complicity of the regional military 
authorities in the attack. 

In the past human rights workers have often been considered as 
guerrilla sympathizers or collaborators and have subsequently been 
the victim of human rights violations at the hands of the security 
forces or their paramilitary allies. Over the last 10 years six 
CREDHOS activists have been assassinated and several others have 
gone into exile.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send 
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters:
- expressing concern for members of CREDHOS;
- calling for the authorities to undertake all measures deemed 
appropriated by those under threat to guarantee their safety;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into links between the 
security forces and paramilitary groups operating in the area and 
urging that those found responsible for supporting and participating in 
such groups be brought to justice;
- urging that the authorities take immediate action to dismantle 
paramilitary groups, in line with stated government commitments.

APPEALS TO:                        (Salutations)

President of Colombia:  (Dear President Samper)
Senor Presidente Ernesto Samper Pizano, Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Narino
Carrera 8 No. 7-26
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia 
[Telegrams: President Samper Pizano, Bogota, Colombia]
[Telex:  396 44281 PALP CO]
[Fax: 011 57 1 284 2186/289 3377/286 7434/]

Minister of the Interior          (Dear Minister)
Dr. Alfonso Lopez Caballero, Ministro del Interior
Ministerio del Interior
Carrera 8, No.8-09, Piso 2
Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA
[Telegrams:   Ministro del Interior, Bogota, Colombia]
[Telexes:  396 45406 MINGO CO]
[Fax:  011 57 1 281 5884 / 286 6524 / 286 0405]

Minister of Defence                    (Dear Minister)
Dr.Gilberto Echeverri Mejia,Ministro de Defensa Nacional
Ministerio de Defensa Nacional
Avenida Eldorado CAN - Carrera 52
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
[Telegrams: Ministro de Defensa, Bogota, Colombia]
[Telexes:  396 42411 INPRE CO; 44561 CFAC CO]
[Faxes: 011 57 1 222 1874 ]


Attorney General              (Dear Dr. Gomez)
Dr.Alfonso Gomez Mendez
Fiscal General de la Nacion, Fiscalia General de la Nacion
Diagonal 22B 5201
Apartado Aereo 29855 
Santafe de Bogota,Colombia
[Telegrams:  Fiscal General, Fiscalia General, Bogota, Colombia]
[Faxes: 011 571 570 2000 (when ansaphone picks up dial 2017 for 
fax)]

COPIES TO:

CREDHOS, 
AA 505,Barrancabermeja,
Santander, Colombia

Ambassador Juan Carlos Esguerra 
Embassy of Colombia
2118 Leroy Pl. NW
Washington DC 20008


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 25 August 1998.