U R G E N T A C T I O N A P P E A L
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UA 156/98 'Disappearances'/Fear for Safety/Extrajudicial
Executions 18 May 1998
COLOMBIA
'Disappeared'over 30 inhabitants of Barrancabermeja. Fear for Safety of
human rights organization CREDHOS
'Disappeared'Residents of the Nueve de Abril district: Alfredo RUIZ
Fernando ARDILA LANDINEZ
Jose REYNEL CAMPOS AREVALO
Enrique MONCADA VILLAMIZAR
Melquicedec SALAMANCA QUINTERO
Carlos Arturo ADAIS PRADA
Jose Octavio OSORIO
Giovanni HERRERA
David TRIANA( 19)
Ramiro LONDONO Leen DUARTE (15)
Luis Fernando SUAREZ
Juan de Jesus VALDIVIESO PABON
Julio CRISTANCHO
Wilfredo USEDA PEREZ
Daniel CAMPOS PEREZ (19)
CarlosESCOBAR PEREZ (17)
El Campestre district:
Gary de Jesus PINEDO RANGEL
Jose Libardo LONDONO AVENDANO
Luis Enrique CABALLERO ROMERO
Wilson PACHECO QUIROZ
El Campin district:
Diego Fernando OCHOA LOPEZ
and his twin sister: Alejandra Maria OCHOA LOPEZ Oswaldo Enrique VASQUEZ
QUINTERO
Ender GONZALEZ BAENA
Oscar Leonel BARRERA SANTA
Robert WELL GORDILLO
Jaime YESID RODRIGUEZ (16)
Juan Carlos RODRIGUEZ
There is serious concern for the safety of people living in Barrancabermeja
town, department of Santander, following a paramilitary incursion into the
districts of Nueve de Abril, El Campin, El Campestre and Maria Eugenia on 16
May 1998. The townspeople were taking part in a bazaar to raise money for
Mother's Day on Sunday, 24 May. During the attack several people were killed
and more than 30 others were abducted. The fate of those named above is
not known.
The paramilitary group members reportedly stated that they had arrived in
Barrancabermeja to 'poner orden' ('impose order'). Several masked
paramilitary men pointed to individuals they were going to abduct, whose
names were included in a 'death list' they carried with them.
During the attack, three young men, Luis Jesus Arguello, German Leon
Quintero and Jose Javier Jaramillo Diaz, who tried to resist abduction were
killed immediately. Some reports suggest that more than 43 people were
abducted. By 19 May, 15 of those originally abducted reappeared alive.
Later that night, the paramilitary group entered the northeastern sector of
the town. A truck, in which between 10 and 12 heavily armed men were
travelling, reportedly parked outside the house of Osiris Bayter Ferias,
president of the Corporacion Regional de Derechos Humanos, (CREDHOS),
Regional Human Rights Corporation, a regional non-governmental human
rights organization. While the truck was parked outside her house, her
telephone rang on several occasions, but there was no reply when she
answered. There is serious concern for the safety of Osiris Bayter and other
members of the CREDHOS since members of this organization have
frequently received death threats by paramilitary groups and have been
accused of being 'guerrilla collaborators' by members of the Colombian
Army and security forces. In the past, those labelled as guerrilla
sympathizers or collaborators have frequently been the victims of serious
human rights violations committed by the security forces or their
paramilitary allies.
The paramilitary group remained in the El Campin district for approximately
half an hour, firing shots sporadically. Despite the fact that this district is
close to a military base, no apparent effort was made by the armed forces
to prevent the attack.
At least 12 people are known to have been killed by the paramilitary group,
including a six-year-old and 13-year-old boy. The discovery of several
corpses has raised concern for the safety of those who remain abducted.
Jairo Massiol Cedeno, who had been abducted in the Nueve de Abril district,
was reportedly released by the paramilitary group on Sunday, 17 May at
8pm. He had been tortured. The paramilitary warned that they would carry
out a further attack in Barrancabermeja. Luis Eduardo Canas, who had also
been abducted, was also subsequently released after being beaten.
Amnesty International is also concerned for the safety of inhabitants of the
nearby municipalities of Yondo, department of Antioquia, Cantagallo,
department of Santander and San Pablo, department of Bolivar, since these
communities have been reportedly threatened with a large-scale
paramilitary incursion. Recently the Defensor del Pueblo, Human Rights
Ombudsman stated that the municipality of Simiti, north of San Pablo was
under threat of paramilitary attack.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Barramcanbermeja is situated in central Colombia. In the southeastern and
northeastern sectors of the city guerrilla groups have a strong presence in
the form of urban militia units. For several years, paramilitary groups
operating in alliance with the armed forces have been responsible for many
serious human rights violations. Among the communities which have
witnessed human rights violations committed by paramilitary groups are
the municipalities of Yondo (department of Antioquia); San Pablo
(department of Bolivar) and Cantagallo (department of Santander) which
have reportedly been threatened with a paramilitary attack.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters: - expressing deep
concern for the safety of residents of Barrancabermeja and particularly the
people forcibly abducted by a paramilitary group on 16 May 1998;
- urging that full and impartial investigations be undertaken into the
possible extrajudicial executions listed above and into the whereabouts of
those forcibly abducted whose whereabouts remain unknown, that the
results be made public and that those responsible be brought to justice;
- expressing deep concern for the safety of inhabitants of the
municipalities of Yondo, Cantagallo, San Pablo and Simiti and for members
of CREDHOS;
- urging that all appropriate measures be taken to guarantee the safety of
these communities and members of CREDHOS; - 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:
President of Colombia:
Senor Presidente Ernesto Samper Pizano
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Narino
Carrera 8 No. 7-26
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Dear President Samper:
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:
Dr. Alfonso Lopez Caballero
Ministro del Interior
Ministerio del Interior
Carrera 8, No.8-09, Piso 2
Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA
Dear Minister:
Telegrams: Ministro del Interior, Bogota, Colombia Telexes: 396 45406
MINGO CO
Fax: 011 57 1 281 5884 / 286 6524 / 286 0405
Minister of Defense:
Dr.Gilberto Echeverri Mejia
Ministro de Defensa Nacional
Ministerio de Defensa Nacional
Avenida Eldorado CAN - Carrera 52
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Dear Minister:
Telegrams: Ministro de Defensa, Bogota, Colombia Telexes: 396 42411 INPRE
CO / 396 44561 CFAC CO Faxes: 011 57 1 222 1874
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 June 30, 1998.
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