The former mayor of Apartado and Patriotic Union party leader Jose Antonio Lopez Bula wrote to CSN from Itagui prison in Colombia on January 29, 1998, updating us on his case and asking for our support. Jose Antonio was a progressive mayor under whose administration many important public works were carried out,. He worked ceaselessly for peace in a terribly conflictive area. He sought to improve living conditions for poor residents of the city and for refugees streaming in from the countryside. He traveled as leader of a delegation from Apartado to the sister community of Dane County , Wisconsin, where Madison is located.

Yet this peacemaker and promoter of progress in Apartado was wrongfully charged with planning a massacre in January 1994 in which 35 people were killed in Apartado. His case was assigned to the "faceless Justice" courts, but in July 1997 he was found totally innocent of all charges, even given the difficulty that system presents for defending oneself. His case is now before the National Tribunal in consultation, and he has asked that people in the U.S. write to support the confirmation of the decision he was innocent and for his prompt release from prison, where he has spent the last 4 yars charged with a crime he did not commit.

Sincerely,
COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK
Madison, WI

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MODEL LETTER FOR PERSONS IN THE USA

Senores
Magistrados
Honorable Tribunal Nacional               
Fax  011  57  1  288-  8717
Calle 31 # 6 -24
Bogota, Colombia

Dear Court Magistrates :

Reference: Case  #  8769

We have followed with interest for the past several years the case of 
Dr. JOSE ANTONIO LOPEZ-BULA in the Colombian Court system. He is 
an important political leader of Colombia with whom we are 
acquinted and whose efforts for peace, progress and harmony we 
value highly. He has dedicated his efforts to peace and progress, 
particularly in the Uraba region of Antioquia province.

We  have always believed in the total innocence of Dr. LOPEZ-BULA 
of the charges which the national Attorney General's office brought 
against him. Thus numerous organizations and important persons in 
our country are aware of his humanistic work and his respect for the 
institutional life of Colombia.  We have followed closely the criminal 
court proceedings in which he was  unjustly involved.

In the month of July  last year, a federal judge in a correct decision 
exonerated him completely of the charges formulated against him. 
However, we have been informed that the case was remitted to the 
consideration of the National Tribunal.

We  hope the this high- ranking  judicial authority will confirm in its 
entirety the exculpatory decision in favor of Dr. LOPEZ-BULA. We also 
hope that the decision will be adopted soon, so that he may recover 
his freedom and rejoin his family and society.

We are certain a decision confirming his innocence will promote 
respect for the Colombian system of justice and will be valued 
positively by the international community and world opinion.

Respectfully,

( Name of the organization or person)
(Position which the person holds in the organization)

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