To CSN members and other interested persons:
Earlier this week we received a report that the lawyer for the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado, Germán Romero Sánchez, with whom delegations of the Colombia Support Network (CSN) have met in Colombia, has received threats to his life. Attorney Romero has appeared on behalf of the Peace Community and its legal representative Germán Graciano in court proceedings, and his defense of the Community against spurious charges by the Seventeenth Brigade of the Colombian Army has been fundamentally important to the Peace Community. He has also served as a protector of human rights in other cases as an attorney with dhColombia.
Among the threats and worrisome actions directed at Attorney Romero are the following: on September 4,, a computer with sensitive information concerning his work was stolen from his office; on August 28, as he was returning from a hearing in Popayan with one of the bodyguards assigned to him by the UNP (National Protection Unit) his car was followed by a man and a woman on a motorcycle who later inquired of the night watchman at his building of possible rental units; and during the months of July and August on weekends German received numerous calls to his cellphone, insisting that he should report to the callers.
The legal team with which German works at dhColombia has linked high officials of the Colombian Army, public employees, and members of the now defunct DAS intelligence service as responsible for extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, threats to leaders of land restitution efforts, tortures and massacres.
We ask that you join us in sending letters to President Ivan Duque Marquez and Minister of Defense Guillermo Botero Nieto, urging them to provide protection to Attorney Romero and to investigate the threats against him. We also suggest that you send a letter to the new U.S. Ambassador to Colombia, Philip S. Goldberg, asking his assistance in obtaining a commitment by the Colombia government to provide protection to Attorney Romero.
Suggested letter 1:
The Honorable Ivan Duque
President of Colombia
Casa de Nariño
Carrera 8a, #7-26
Bogotá, D.C.
Colombia
Dear President Duque,
I write in response to threats against Attorney Germán Romero Sánchez of dhColombia, whose life has been seriously threatened. Attorney Romero has been a leader in defense of persons threatened with violence, including leaders of the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado in Antioquia.
I urge you to order immediate measures to protect and insure the safety of Attorney Romero and to order an investigation of the threats made against him for the purpose of bringing criminal charges against those making these threats and ordering the end of such threats.
Sincerely,
(your name and address and, if you wish, an affiliation)
Suggested letter 2
The Honorable Guillermo Botero Nieto
Ministro de Defensa Nacional
Carrera 54, No/ 26-25
CAN
Bogotá, D.C.
Colombia
Dear Minister of Defense Botero,
(Repeat the two paragraphs of the letter to President Duque, them continue as follows)
I am concerned that effective measures be taken at once to
provide proper protection to Attorney Romero.
Sincerely,
(your name and address and, if you wish, an affiliation)
Suggested letter 3:
The Honorable Philip S. Goldberg
Ambassador of the United States of America
U.S. Embassy
Carrera 45, No. 248-27
Bogotá, D.C.
Colombia
Dear Ambassador Goldberg,
I write to you from concern about threats that have recently been made against Attorney German Romero of Bogota, who has provided important assistance to the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado, in response to threats against them by illegal paramilitary forces and the Seventeenth Brigade of the Colombian Army. I ask that you convey our concerns to the Government of President Duque and impress upon him the importance of providing effective protection to Attorney Romero and to the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado.
Sincerely,
(your name and address and, if you wish, an affiliation)