UA 41/99
U R G E N T A C T I O N A P P E A L

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headquarters in London, England. A.I. is an independent worldwide 
movement working for the international protection of human rights. 
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sex, ethnic origin, language or religious creed, provided they have not 
used nor advocated violence. These are termed prisoners of 
conscience. It works for fair and prompt trials for all political 
prisoners and works on behalf of such people detained without 
charge or trial. It opposes the death penalty, extra-judicial executions 
(political killings), 'disappearances' and torture or other cruel, 
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners 
without reservation. Amnesty International promotes awareness of 
and adherance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and 
other internationally recognized human rights instruments, the 
values enshrined in them and the indivisibility and interdependence 
of all human rights and freedoms.

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3 March 1999

UA 41/99
Fear for safety /'disappearance' /extrajudicial execution 

COLOMBIA
Edgar Alfonso Sierra Sindrai (minor)	] 'Disappeared'
Miguel Angel Cifuentes	]

Orlando Forero Tarazona	] Killed
Jose Dario Sanchez	]
Israel Ariza	]
Leonardo Guzman	]
Jose Dario Hernandez	]
William Rojas	]
Oscar Manuel Barroso	]
Jesus Manuel Gil	]
Parmenio Terraza Zuleta	]

Pedro Palacios (injured)


Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the safety of the 
civilian population of the town of Barrancabermeja, Santander 
Department. A group of heavily armed gunmen believed to be 
members of a paramilitary force entered the city on the afternoon of 
28 February 1999 and reportedly killed at least eight people, and 
abducted three others, one of whom has since been found dead. 

The 20-strong heavily armed paramilitary force entered the 
northeastern area of the city at about 5 pm in three vehicles. 
Eyewitnesses have reported that they had a deserter from a guerrilla 
group with them. In the past guerrilla defectors have helped 
paramilitary organizations to target civilians considered to be 
guerrilla sympathizers.

The paramilitary force passed through the district of Provivienda, 
killing Jose Dario Sanchez and Orlando Forero Tarazona and injuring 
Pedro Palacios, and the Versalles district, where they shot dead 
Israel Ariza. In the Ramaral district they forcibly abducted Edgar 
Alfonso Sierra Sindrai, a schoolboy member of the youth wing of the 
Organizacion Feminina Popular (OFP), Popular Women's Organization, 
a regional non-governmental human rights organization.

On the main road out of the city toward the nearby town of Puerto 
Wilches the paramilitary group killed Leonardo Guzman and Jose 
Dario Hernandez, a taxi driver, near the San Silvestre district. They 
then set up a road-block further down the road where they stopped 
about 30 vehicles and shot dead William Rojas and Jose Dario 
Hernandez. Nearby they killed Jesus Manuel Gil. 

To leave the city the paramilitaries reportedly had to pass through a 
military check-point operated by the 45th Battalion, 'Heroes of 
Majagual'. The soldiers allowed the paramilitary group vehicles to 
pass through unhindered and later told police that the group had 
said they were judicial officials from the Office of the Attorney 
General. Armed forces officials have since denied that a military 
check point was operating on the road when the paramilitary force 
made their escape.

On 1 March at about 3am Parmenio Terraza Zuleta and Miguel Angel 
Cifuentes were forcibly abducted reportedly by Colombian Police 
officers, opposite the offices of the Corporacion Regional de Derechos 
Humanos (CREDHOS), Regional Human Rights Corporation,. Parmenio 
Terraza Zuleta's body was found in the city district of La Paz on 2 
March. The whereabouts of Miguel Angel Cifuentes remain unknown.

Amnesty International is particularly concerned that a paramilitary 
group could enter Barrancabermeja in daylight and carry out 
'disappearances' and extrajudicial executions, in spite of the 
extremely heavy army presence in the city. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Barrancabermeja is situated in central Colombia. Guerrilla groups 
have a strong presence in the southeastern and northeastern areas of 
the city. For several years, paramilitary groups operating in alliance 
with the armed forces have been responsible for many serious 
human rights violations. On 16 May 1998 paramilitary forces went 
into some poorer districts of Barrancabermeja, killed 11 people and 
forcibly abducted 25 others, whose whereabouts remain unknown. 
At least one soldier is under disciplinary investigation for his 
involvement in the incursion and several other security force 
officials are being investigated for dereliction of duty.

For details of further paramilitary incursions involving serious 
human right violations, see UA 156/98, (AMR 23/34/98, 18 May 
1998) and follow ups.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters: - expressing deep 
concern for the safety of residents of Barrancabermeja and 
particularly Edgar Alfonso Sierra Sindrai and Miguel Angel Cifuentes 
who have not been seen since they were forcibly abducted on 28 
February and 1 March; - calling for all appropriate measures be 
taken to ensure the safety of the civilian population of 
Barrancabermeja; - urging that full and impartial investigations be 
undertaken into the killings of those listed above and into the 
whereabouts of those forcibly abducted, that the results be made 
public and that those responsible be 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. 

APPEALS TO:
President of Colombia:
Senor Presidente Andres Pastrana
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Narino
carrera 8 No. 7-26
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia

Dear President Pastrana:

Telegrams: President Pastrana, Bogota, Colombia Telex: 396 44281 
PALP CO
Fax: 011 57 1 286 7434/ 284 2186/ 337 1351 


Minister of the Interior:
Dr. Nestor Humberto Martinez
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 1 286 0053

Minister of Defence:
Dr. Rodrigo Lloreda
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

Governor of Santander Department:
Sr. Miguel de Jesus Arenas Prada
Gobernador del Departamento de Santander Gobernacion de 
Santander
Calle 37, No. 10-30
Bucaramanga, Colombia

Dear Governor:

Faxes: 011 5776 339889

COPIES TO:
Human rights organization:
CREDHOS
AA 505
Barrancabermeja
Santander, Colombia

Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno
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 April 14, 1999.