INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL OF OPINION AGAINST IMPUNITY

                  BARRANCABERMEJA DEMANDS JUSTICE
                    
                              May 14, 15, 16,  1999

What happened on May 16, 1998:

     It was the night of May 16, 1998 in the southeast section of
Barranca; the music of the bazar had just begun to be heard after the
tensions produced by the military and police checkpoints; the girls,
prettier than ever, were arriving in groups to meet up with their
friends and boyfriends.  But suddenly, on the heels of the festive joy
of the people, the covered trucks, the pick-ups and the motorcycles
arrived.  They concealed themselves in the shadows of the night in a
macabre run through the barrios Campestre, Divino Nino, Maris Eugenia,
and 9th of April.  They vomited armed men, 20, 30, 40, 50, all of whom
carried long-range guns in their hands and signs of the curse of Cain on
their foreheads while they ran and shouted at the confused people, who
did not understand what was happening, to throw themselves on the
ground.  The music stopped and we all obeyed; and while we were on the
ground with our faces against the pavement we prayed and remembered our
loved ones.  The hyenas then began their macabre selection - this one
yes - that one no - this one yes.  It was a death roulette.  Two
cadavers remained there - one of them scalped.  The next day 5 more were
found along the road whcih connects our oil port with Bucaramanga; and
25 Barranguenos were disappeared.
     Barrancabermeja let loose a tremendous cry of pain and
rebelliousness and the whole of Colombia knew that Barranca would not
resign itself to losing its sons.

          WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL TRIBUANL OF OPINION?

     It is a judicial instrument with international participation which
is not supported by the state but rather by the ethical conscience of
humanity which, in the Tribunal, is made up of international
personalities from the sciences, the arts, the religious world and the
world of politics.

      WHY HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL OF OPINION?

     * Because of the total absence of justice in the many crimes
against Humanity that are committed in Colombia and for which the state
has responsibility by acts of omission.

     * Because of 100 crimes that are committed only 3 are sanctioned;
for crimes against Humanity impunity is 100%.

     *Because of the failure of the state to fulfill its international
and national committments with respect to Human Rights.

     * Because massacres such as that which occured in Trujillo where
the responsibility of the state was demonstrated and accepted by E.
Samper still remain in the most absolute impunity; and truth, justice
and reparation haven't been possible.

     * Because mechanisms exist within the Colombian state that impede
the sanction of those responsible, such as Military Jurisdiction.

 FOR WHAT END HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL OF OPINION?

     * So that the international community can make an ethical and
political judgement of the events that took place in Barrancabermeja on
May 16, 1998.

     * So that truth, justice and reparation for the victims, their
families and communities can be achieved.

     * To facilitate the realization of workable proposals for the
struggle against impunity for crimes against Humanity.

     * To achieve wide national and international solidarity and support
for the struggle of the social and communtiy organizations who are most
affected by impunity and the growth of the paramilitary. 

                                     PROGRAM

                                   May 14 and 15

                                 Tribunal Sessions

                                       May 16

                               * Popular Assembly
                                 * Tribunal report
                             *Judgement Ratification
                           *Political and Cultural Event

                           
                                    

			Organizers:

                   Association of Families of the Disappeared
                          Masacrados del 16 de Mayo
                   Coordinadora Popular de Barrancabermeja
                           Union Sindical Obrera  "USO"
                                Project Nunca Mas

                             Barrancabermeja, May, 1999