PBI COLOMBIA * * * EMERGENCY SUPPORT NETWORK * * * PBI 
COLOMBIA


RE: ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST 
MARIO CALIXTO; 
    PBI VOLUNTEERS AT RISK

December 24, 1997

I am writing to request your assistance in an urgent matter
pertaining to the safety of Peace Brigades International's
volunteers in Colombia and a well-known Colombian human rights
activist, Mario Humberto Calixto.  The present alert follows a
serious threat on the life of Mr. Calixto that occurred on the
evening of December 23, during which PBI volunteers were present. 

BACKGROUND:

As was reported in the PBI publication Focos de Interes No. 9, the
President of the Human Rights Committee of Sabana de Torres
(Santander), Mario Humberto Calixto, recently received serious
threats against his life from a presumed paramilitary group, stating
that "they would kill him in December."  Due to these circumstances
the PBI team decided to increase their accompaniment during 
December
for Mario Calixto.  PBI has accompanied the Human Rights Committee
of Sabana de Torres since 1995.

DECEMBER 23:

On December 23 at approximately 6:00 p.m., while two PBI 
volunteers
(one Belgian and one Spaniard) were present in the home of Mario
Calixto and his family, two armed men appeared at the house
threatening all those present, particularly Mr. Calixto.  The men
demonstrated their intention to abduct Mr. Calixto.  At that time,
the PBI volunteers identified themselves as international members 
of Peace Brigades International.  Ultimately, the PBI volunteers were
able to dissuade the armed men, who left the house.  Later in the
evening, the PBI volunteers observed the continued presence of the
same armed men outside the family's house.

The PBI Colombia Project considers these events to be a very serious
threat, not only to Mario Calixto and his family, but also to the
safety of the PBI volunteers in Colombia.  There is currently one
United States citizen on the PBI team in Colombia.

We ask that you send, as promptly as possible, faxes to the
following people, referring to the above events and expressing your
deepest concern for the security of the Calixto family.  At the same
time, please insist on the need for an investigation into the
incident on the part of the Colombian authorities, and ask that the
work of the Human Rights Committee of Sabana de Torres, as well as
the work of the PBI team itself, be respected.


ADDRESSES:	

Doctora PATRICIA LUNA	Fax:   011 57 1 286 6524
Encargada de Derechos Humanos	011 57 1 284 0214
Ministerio del Interior
Bogota, Colombia


Doctor GILBERTO ECHEVERRY MEJIA	Fax:     011 57 1 288 4906
Ministro de Defensa, Santafe de Bogota.
Ministerio de Defensa
Bogota, Colombia


General MARIO FERNANDO ROA CUERVO	Fax:    011 57 76344217
II Division Magdalena Medio			011 57 76 453995
Bucaramanga, Colombia

On behalf of the Colombia Project and all of Peace Brigades
International, we thank you for your prompt response to this
extremely serious incident.  If possible, please notify us of any
action you may take on this matter.  Thank you again for your
ongoing support.

Kelly MacCready
North American Representative to the Colombia Project Committee
(416)588-0694

* * * * * * * * * * * *
kelly.maccready@sympatico.ca