Date: 14 April 1999
From: Colombia Support Network, Madison, WI

CALL FOR ACTION TO SUPPORT THE PEACE COMMUNITIES IN URABA

-- PLEASE WRITE TO FARC AND PARAMILITARIES 

The Colombia Support Network has received reliable information 
stating that a significant number of active militants from FARC 
(Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia ), one of the two 
leftist guerrilla organizations, have violated the neutrality of the 
Peace Communities in Uraba, intimidated these communities and not 
respected their principles of neutrality in relation to the armed 
conflict. The Peace Communities are an alternative allowing the 
civilian population to express autonomy, a dignified life and a 
peaceful expression of opposition to the status quo by breaking the 
dynamics of war and injustice, creating a space for civilians to 
survive.

By not respecting the Peace Communities, FARC places the 
humanitarian aid of the Catholic Church and of national and 
international Non Governmental Organizations at risk. This very 
important humanitarian work supports the more than 15,000 
displaced peasants in the region. 

At the same time the paramilitary troops, ACCU (Autodefensas 
Campesinas de Cordoba y Uraba) ,headed by Carlos Castano, have 
committed the most abominable and horrific crimes against the 
peasants who have chosen the path of non-violence. They constantly 
use and single out peasants in the Peace Communities and cause 
incredible psychological and social suffering of this civilian 
population. ACCU are a right-wing guerrillas financed by land owners 
and drug traffickers with close links to the Colombian army, which 
receives milions of dollars from the U.S. in the name of the so- called 
"War on Drugs" .

Your letters will do a lot of good by letting FARC and ACCU know that 
people all over the world are concerned by these recent events 

Please address your letters or faxes to both FARC and ACCU : 

Manuel Marulanda Velez
FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) 

Carlos Castano
ACCU (Autodefensas Campesinas de Cordoba y Uraba) 

In care of the Colombian Catholic Bishops Conference which has 
agreed, at CSN 's request, to forward them to FARC and ACCU. 


Send to:
FAX : 011 57 1 631 0692
ADDRESS : Carrera 47 # 84 - 85
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia, South America


Suggested wording :

To FARC . Please respect the active non-violent position of the Peace 
Communities,  because without this their members lives are in 
danger. The physical and psychological integrity of these persons 
depends on the absence of any active FARC militants within their 
communities. 

To ACCU : Please stop your aggression against peasants who have 
chosen non-violence; free the kidnapped peasants taken last week 
and stop the massacres, killings and threats against the civilian 
population. 


Please send copies to:
Colombia Support Network
P.O. Box 1505    Madison, WI 53701
(608) 257-8753 fax (608) 255-6621
csn@igc.apc.org