June 1999 News

We write to you on behalf of the Colombia Support Network (---State---, ---chapter---). We are an organization based in the United States which focuses attention on the human rights situation in Colombia. In this connection we are particularly concerned about the fact that the Colombian government has not yet passed the proposed legislation on the crime of forced disappearances, Bill no. 172 in the Colombian Congress. This is the sixth bill on to classify forced disappearances as a crime which has been presented in the Congress, and none has yet passed. Only a few days remain in the legislative session and we understand priority has been now been assigned to other measures. We believe this bill should be given great importance and passed now.

In this connection, we remind you of your commitment made in February 16, 1999 meeting with human rights defenders to give priority to passage of the measure. In addition, the United Nations has called upon the Colombian government to adopt this classification of the crime of forced disappearance, which it considers urgent.

We ask therefore that you confirm your committment to immediate passage of this legislation, consistently with Presidential Directive 3 of October 15, 1998 and Point no. 10 of the agreement between the Colombian Government and the regional board of the Middle Magdalena Permanent Working Group for Peace. We ask that you use your best offices to push for the Colombian Congress passage of Bill no. 172 now.