REQUEST FOR ACTION Posted by CSN (Madison, WI, USA) 7/23/97 The Colombia Solidarity and Support Network has received the following message: RESPECT FOR LIFE AND HUMAN DIGNITY On behalf of the people's organizations from the department of Arauca represented by the Association of Educators of Arauca (ASEDAR), the Association of Farm Laborers of Arauca (ADUC), the Workers' Central Union, Arauca Section (CUT), the General Federation of Workers (CGTD), the Federation of Indigenous Communities, the Indigenous Regional Council of Arauca (CRIA), Cooperatives, Chambers of Commerce, Student Associations, the Joel Sierra Human Rights Committee, Parents and the community in general; As spokespersons for the people of Arauca we present to: The Ministries of Defence, Education, Justice and the Interior, the Ombudsman, the Attorney General and his delegates, the Government of Arauca, the Departmental Assembly, Non-Governmental Organizations for Human Rights, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia, Social Organizations in Colombia and International Human Rights Organizations, the following information: We wish to denounce and make known to the department, the nation and the international community, and to human rights' monitoring bodies, the assaults on civilian life constituted by massacres, tortures, murders, rapes, forcible eviction and theft perpetrated by the following sectors of the Colombian Armed Forces: The Reveis Pizarro Battalion from Saravena, currently under the command of Lieutenant Colonel ROBERTO TRUJILLO; the Fortul Battalion, commanded by Major ANDRES ALFONSO MURILLO; the Navas Pardo Battalion from Tame, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel JAVIER FERNANDEZ URENA; the 18th Mobile Brigade, commanded by colonel ALBERTO TAMAYO PUERTO; colonel JORGE BARON LEGUIZAMON, commandant of the Arauca police; the secret police DAS, commanded by LUIS E. TAMAYO; and forces operating outside the law. We demand the presence of a commission composed of representatives of the Colombian government, the departmental government, state bodies and national and international NGOs for human rights, such as the International Red Cross, Amnesty International and the press, so as to be able to present the testimony of the victims and of social organizations. We demand that these barbaric and criminal acts on the part of the Armed Forces of Colombia and forces outside the law be investigated and that those who are physically and intellectually responsible for them be punished, so that these acts are not repeated. We believe it is imperative for the State to end its secrecy and silence and answer to investigators for what has happened, so as to establish responsibility for the criminal acts that have been denounced in various protest events in this department, and which are detailed in the proceedings of those meetings. Lastly, we demand the creation of an organization to inspect and control abuses, composed by members of the people's organizations, high government officials, and NGOs concerned with human rights, so that there is a serious effort to meet our demands. The armed forces of the State should not be made members of this commission, to avoid a conflict of interest, and to guarantee the honesty of the inspection and control exercised by this commission. LEGITIMATE ACTIONS BY PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATIONS IN ARAUCA TO DEMAND RESPECT FOR LIFE AND HUMAN DIGNITY For some time now, people's organizations in Arauca have made use of different legal mechanisms to denounce abuses. They have repeatedly reported both to the authorities in charge of control, justice and inspection and to the general public numerous acts that violate the fundamental right to life, in order to make known the criminal attitudes and behavior of members of the Colombian armed forces and of forces outside the law in this departmental area, so that the guilty parties may be held accountable. Besides the actions already undertaken, namely demonstrations in defense of life and human dignity that took place in Corocito, Betoyes and Caranal on October 15, 1996; an extension of the Security Council in the city of Arauca on October 28, 1996, which resulted in an agreement on citizen behavior; a Security Council meeting in the city of Tame on Thursday June 5, 1997; and a Security Council meeting in the town of Arauquita in May 1997; we present to national and international public opinion, the following facts: CASE: Murder DATE: Act occurred in June 1996 VICTIM: JULIAN OCTAVIO QUINCHIA RESPONSIBLE: Antiguerrilla Patrol "the Destroyers", commanded by Lieutenant Castro. CASE: Murders DATE: Act occurred January 10, 1997 VICTIMS: OSCAR ORLANDO BUENO BONET, YEFERSON GONZALEZ, JEAN CARLOS CABARICO. RESPONSIBLE: Military patrol belonging to the Pizarro Battalion, under the command of a professional soldier nicknamed "Careleche." CASE: Murder and massive eviction of peasants DATE: 23 January, 1997 VICTIMS: Dead: LUIS ALFONSO TORRES ACOSTA, JESUS PENA VASQUEZ, CARMEN LUCIA VASQUEZ, OLIVARES MANCILLA and JOSE ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ. Forcible eviction of the entire peasant population of the settlements of San Ignacio and Cachama. RESPONSIBLE: Individuals in civilian dress, stationed at the following haciendas: the Danubio hacienda, belonging to ANTENO SARMIENTO, and the Aurora hacienda, belonging to VICTOR CARRANZA. Both are under the protection of the military bases located in the haciendas. The military at these bases participate in the inspection of the police of San Ignacio and Cachama, in the Town of Puerto Rondon. CASE: Murder and physical assault. DATE: 6 February, 1997. VICTIMS: JESUS ALBERTO VAZCO, JOSE RODRIGUEZ OSTIDES and physical assault on the boy JOAQUIN TAMARA, of Venezuelan nationality. RESPONSIBLE: Venezuelan Guard located on the banks of the river Arauca, near the Victoria ranch, in the state of Apure, Venezuela. CASE: Murder DATE: 1 March, 1997 VICTIMS: Peasants: HECTOR DIAZ AVILA, CARLOS ALFONSO CASTRILLON and FELIX AVILA. RESPONSIBLE: Antiguerrilla Patrol belonging to the 49th Battalion from Arauquita. CASE: Murder DATE: 20 April, 1997 VICTIMS: FREDY YESSID CONTRERAS OSORIO. Health worker. RESPONSIBLE: A group wearing hoods, presumed to be commanded by a member of the Reveis Pizarro Battalion, alias "Careleche." The victim had previously stated in conversation that he had received death threats from said officer. CASE: Murder by slashed throat. One kilometer from the military base of Naranjitos, in the District of Tame, on the dirt road to Ictabana. DATE: 9 May, 1997 VICTIMS: JOSE ANTONIO BARRERA RODRIGUEZ RESPONSIBLE: Presumed members of the Armed Forces from the base at Naranjitos, Tame. CASE: Assault DATE: 11 May, 1997 VICTIMS: HECTOR CANDELA JAIMES, B.A. RESPONSIBLE: Unknown individuals in a dark red Toyota Macho with Venezuelan plate no. 756, plus two individuals on a Yamaha 125 motorcycle. Complaint filed with the Attorney General JAIME BERNAL CUELLAR. CASE: Murder DATE: 11 May, 1997 VICTIMS: RAMON HERNANDEZ OSTOS RESPONSIBLE: Presumed to be members of the secret police (DAS), according to a complaint filed by murdered professor DOMINGO ZOCADAGUI. CASE: Threat DATE: 7 May, 1997 VICTIMS: Teacher RODRIGO CARVAJAL BELENO RESPONSIBLE: Two unknown individuals who came up and threatened him, demanding that he leave the area immediately, or his life was in danger. Report filed with the Judge of Curumani (Cesar department). CASE: Threat DATE: May 20, 1997 VICTIMS: DOROTEO VIVIESCAS JAIMES, teacher. RESPONSIBLE: Unknown, permanently trailed by individuals on a high-cylinder blue and white motorcycle, following him and continually threatening him at his apartment. Report filed with the Bureau of Technical Investigations in the Prosecutor General's office in Cucuta (Norte de Santander department). CASE: Threat DATE: 30 May, 1997 VICTIMS: IDEL ROGELIO NEIVA, teacher. RESPONSIBLE: Unknown individuals who arrived at his home at twelve midnight banging loudly on the door and window to make him come out; the same day at 3.30 pm they had already visited the teacher's home asking his wife for Professor DOMINGO ZOCADAGUI PAREDES and for the victim himself, leaving the message that it would be better for him to leave the Department altogether because they could not guarantee his life was safe. Complaint was filed with the Regional Prosecutor's Office, in the homicide unit. CASE: Threat DATE: 3 June, 1997 VICTIMS: JOSE DE JESUS FERNANDEZ COLMENARES, teacher. RESPONSIBLE: Unknown individuals. Two of them appeared on a high-cylinder motorcycle and called him by his name, telling him he should leave the Department because they could not guarantee his life was safe. Complaint filed with the Bureau of Technical Investigations in the Prosecutor General's Office in the Department of Arauca. CASE: Threat DATE: 6 June, 1997 VICTIMS: Directors of the Central Association of Educators of Arauca (ASEDAR Central) and union leaders from the department of Arauca. RESPONSIBLE: Unknown individuals who sprayed the walls of the offices of ASEDAR at Street 19 No 22-74, in the Esperanza district, with graffiti that said: "THE PEASANT SELF-DEFENSE UNITS ARE PRESENT IN ARAUCA, SINCERELY THE BLACK HAND." Also, on the morning of June 6, a letter appeared in the said offices, addressed to JAIME ERNESTO CARRILLO and FRANCISCO PACHO ROJAS. It contained a piece of red fabric with the letters A.C. [translator's note: initials of Peasant Self-Defense, a paramilitary group] and a blue card with a type-written message threatening all the union members and their families and demanding they leave the city. It was signed by WILLIAM and JOSE. Complaint filed with the Bureau of Technical Investigations in the Prosecutor's Office in Arauca. CASE: Threat DATE: 8 June, 1997 VICTIMS: Teacher OSCAR ARTURO CARRILLO RESPONSIBLE: Unknown individuals who came up and told him he should leave the Department since they could not guarantee his life was safe. Complaint filed with the Prosecutor's Office in Arauca. CASE: Disrespect and physical maltreatment DATE: 23 May, 1997 VICTIMS: Patients and medical personnel at the Sarare Regional Hospital. RESPONSIBLE: Fifty men, presumed members of the Reveis Pizarro Battalion, from the town of Saravena, who forced their way into the clinic, without any judicial warrant, and interrupted the work of the doctor on duty, who was in the process of treating a youth of approximately fifteen years of age who had been operated on only minutes before. The men then subjected the patients and medical personnel to an intense interrogation. CASE: Murder DATE: 28 May, 1997 VICTIMS: HELIO GELVES CARRILLO, Settlement of Palo de Agua, town of Fortul. RESPONSIBLE: Antiguerrilla Patrol belonging to the 30th Antiguerrilla Battalion, "the Heroes of Pisba," located in the town of Fortul. CASE: Murder of two students, both minors, who were initially presented as having been murdered by the guerrillas. DATE: 30 May, 1997 VICTIMS: DORIAM BAEZ and FERNANDO ARIAS RESPONSIBLE: Military patrol located at the reinforcement post in the outskirts of Tame, on the Saravena - Rondon road. Belonging to the Navas Pardo Battalion in Tame. CASE: Forcible disappearance DATE: 2 June, 1997 VICTIMS: IVAN DIAZ CASTELLANOS RESPONSIBLE: According to the victim's father, they were men in civilian dress, who identified themselves as members of a paramilitary group, and said that he had problems with the army. CASE: Murder DATE: 3 June, 1997 VICTIMS: Educator SABAS DOMINGO ZOCADAGUI PAREDES RESPONSIBLE: Presumed members of the secret police DAS. Days before the murder, the victim was informed by someone who asked not to be identified that in a conversation between members of the security police, they had spoken of having an explicit order to kill professors SABAS DOMINGO ZOCADAGUI, HECTOR CANDELO and FRANS MORENO, according to the complaint filed by the victim at the Ombudsman's office in Arauca. CURRENT SITUATION OF IMPUNITY Our people's organizations have denounced to the departmental and national authorities all violations of human rights via town meetings, forums, communiques and protests; nevertheless, the State bodies in charge of controlling, inspecting, investigating and punishing abuses by the security forces have shown no sign of any results, such as the public declaration of the names of those responsible, which might satisfy the demands of those affected and the people's organizations. In spite of the rapid growth in the use of force by the State to ensure the protection of the civilian population, violations of the rights of the residents of this Department are rising daily. It is this situation which we continue to denounce, but the only response from the authorities is the flagrant impunity which is flaunted throughout the region of Arauca. REQUESTS Write to the national, departmental and military authorities asking for: --Respect for the physical and mental safety of all the leaders of unions and people's organizations, along with their families. --Guaranteed free expression, free association and the right to perform union work and grass-roots political organizing. --Demand that the military leaders in the Department of Arauca be held accountable for their own actions and those of their subalterns, as well as for the commandants of troops stationed in the towns. --The immediate formation of a council to protect human life in the city of Arauca, capital of the Department of Arauca, which would include the following people: The Minister of Defense The Minister of Education The Minister of Justice The Minister of the Interior The Minister of Health The Attorney General The Ombudsman The Prosecutor General Amnesty International The International Committee of the Red Cross The Office of the High Commission for Human Rights Departmental, national and international NGOs for Human Rights. Mayors and representatives of the different towns in the Department. --The formation of a Permanent Commission to follow up on the investigation of cases occurring in the region, which should be composed of: Delegation from the Ombudsman's Office Municipal Representatives NGOs for human rights and representatives of people's organizations from the Department of Arauca. --The assignation of sufficient infrastructure and financial resources by the departmental government to ensure that this commission can work properly. --The publication of periodic updates on the progress of investigations being carried out by the respective authorities. LIST OF AUTHORITIES IN COLOMBIA --Dr ERNESTO SAMPER PIZANO, President of the Republic of Colombia, Palace of the Nation, fax: 571 2842186. Santa Fe de Bogota. --Dr CARLOS VICENTE DE ROUX, Presidential Advisor on Human Rights, fax: 571 341 8364. Santa Fe de Bogota. --Dr JAIME BERNAL CUELLAR, Attorney General, fax: 571 284 0472 or 342 9723. Santa Fe de Bogota. --Dr ALFONSO GOMEZ MENDEZ, Prosecutor General, fax: 571 288 2828. Santa Fe de Bogota. --Dr FERNANDO CASTRO CAICEDO, Ombudsman, fax: 571 346 1225. Santa Fe de Bogota. --Dr CARLOS HOLMES TRUJILLO, Minister of the Interior, fax: 571 251 5884. Santa Fe de Bogota. --Dr GILBERTO ECHEVERRY MEJIA, Minister of Defense, fax: 571 288 4906. Santa Fe de Bogota. --Lieutenant Colonel ROBERTO TRUJILLO, commander of the Reveis Pizarro Battalion, in Saravena, Department of Arauca. --Major ANDRES ALFONSO MURILLO, commander of the Fortul Battalion, Department of Arauca. --Lieutenant Colonel JAVIER FERNANDEZ URENA, commander of the Navas Pardo Battalion in Tame, Department of Arauca. --Colonel ALBERTO TAMAYO PUERTO, commander of the 18th Mobile Brigage, stationed in the city of Arauca, Department of Arauca. --Colonel JORGE BARON LEGUIZAMON, Chief of Police in the city of Arauca, Department of Arauca. --Dr LUIS E. TAMAYO, director of the security police DAS in the city of Arauca, Department of Arauca. SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ARAUCA. *********************************************************** COLOMBIA SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY NETWORK Fax: (571) 333 4701 (571) 284 1662 A. A. 015026 Bogota - Colombia Cra. 18 No. 6 - 44 Sur E-mail: redher@colnodo.apc.org *********************************************************** To remove yourself from this list, send the following message to "servidor@piret.mic.cl" REMOVEME L-RedHySCO STOP ________________________ To make a comment or ask a question about the CONTENTS of this message, write to Blanca at "redher@colnodo.apc.org". _____________________________________________________ To make a comment or ask a question about TECHNICAL ASPECTS of this message or about the list, write to Jorge, at "adm@piret.mic.cl".A