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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Extrajudicial execution / Death threat / Possible 'disappearance'17 
July 1998

COLOMBIACivilian population of Segovia and Remedios 
municipalities, including:

              staff and patients at the 20 de Julio hospital, and
              Reinaldo Duque, local councillor, and
              Amado Porras, community leader}
              Conrado Taborda, bus driver} extrajudicially executed 
              Luis Orlando, bus driver assistant} 


Paramilitary forces have killed three people and threatened to carry 
out attacks on the local population in Segovia and Remedios 
municipalities, Antioquia Department.

On 8 July 1998 a paramilitary force belonging to the Autodefensas del 
Nordeste Antioqueno, Self Defence Forces of Northeast Antioquia, 
entered the hamlet of Tias, Remedios municipality. The armed men 
dragged the community leader, Amado Porras, from his house and 
shot him dead.

Reinaldo Duque, a local councillor, has not been seen since that 
same night. Paramilitaries had reportedly been looking for him in the 
town of Remedios. Reinaldo Duque was forced to flee the area 
in1997 after his name appeared on a paramilitary death list.

On 2 July bus driver, Conrado Taborda, and his assistant, Luis 
Orlando, were forced off their bus between Remedios and Puerto 
Berrio by a group of paramilitary gunmen. Their bodies were found the 
next day. 

Between 30 June and 4 July the 20 de Julio hospital in Segovia 
municipality received repeated anonymous phonecalls threatening to 
blow up the hospital and the surrounding neighbourhood. Since then, 
and in spite of a heavy military presence in the area, masked men 
have walked openly in the streets, spreading panic amongst the local 
population.

In addition, union leaders and human rights activists in the area have 
reportedly been declared military targets by the Autodefensas del 
Nordeste Antioqueno. In recent years many civic leaders and human 
rights activists have been killed by paramilitary forces in repeated 
attacks on the civilian population (see UA 241/95,AMR 23/63/95, 19 
October 1995 and 11 follow-ups). 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Colombian civilians are frequently subjected to serious human rights 
violations when clashes between the armed forces and guerrillas take 
place, including death threats, 'disappearance' and extrajudicial 
execution. Neither the left wing armed opposition groups nor the 
armed forces and their paramilitary allies recognize the civilian 
population's neutrality in the conflict. Members of the Colombian army 
and security forces and their paramilitary allies continue to commit 
serious human rights violations with virtual impunity. Over the past 
five years several thousand civilians have been killed by paramilitary 
groups throughout the country. In 1989 the Colombian government 
suspended the constitutional legal base for the formation of 
paramilitary organizations and issued directives to the armed forces to 
combat and disband such groups, yet they continue to work with the 
support of the security forces in many areas of the country.

President Ernesto Samper Pizano's repeated promises to improve the 
human rights situation and to dismantle paramilitary forces have not 
lead to steps being taken to control their actions and to hold members 
accountable for their human rights violations. The Attorney General 
recently stated that over 200 outstanding arrest warrants issued 
against alleged paramilitary members have still not been acted upon 
by the security forces

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send 
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters:
- expressing concern for the safety of the civilian population of 
Segovia and Remedios, northeast Antioquia, in view of the recent 
killing of Amado Porras, Conrado Taborda and Luis Orlando and 
threats made against the local population;
- calling for all appropriate measures to be taken to guarantee the 
safety of the civilian population in the area;
- urging that an immediate and thorough investigation be made into 
the recent killings by paramilitary forces and the threats made against 
the civilian population, that the results be made public, and those 
responsible brought to justice;- 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;
- reminding the Colombian government of its commitment to the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular Article 3: 
'Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.'. 

APPEALS TO:                         (Salutations)   
(Please note that faxes may be switched off at night.)
President of Colombia, Senor Presidente Ernesto Samper Pizano             
  
(Dear President Samper) 
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 / 286 7434]

Governor of the Department of Antioquia, Dr. Alberto Builes Ortega      
(Dear Governor)
Gobernador del Departamento de Antioquia, Gobernacion de Antioquia
Calle 42B, # 52-106,Medellin
Antioquia, Colombia
[Telegrams: Gobernador de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia]
[Fax:  011 574 381 1342]

Minister of the Interior, Dr. Alfonso Lopez Caballero     (Dear Minister)
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:  01157 1 281 5884 / 286 6524 / 286 0405]

Minister of Defence, Dr.Gilberto Echeverri Mejia       (Dear Minister)
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 ]

COPIES TO: Human Rights Organization, Corporacion Juridica 
Libertad, AA 49027, Medellin, 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 2 September 1998.
                            
'Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person'