Urgent Action: Stop Forced Displacement In San Pablo

Colombia Support Network
Colombia Support Group of Minnesota

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What you should do

1. Make known on a national and international level what is happening in this area.

2. Put into action mechanisms which protect the current displaced population and prevent further displacement from occurring.

3. Exert pressure on the Colombian government to comply with the agreement it signed on October 4, 1998 to protect the peasant exodus.

4. Assist the current displaced population of San Pablo and Simiti by providing food and medicine.

5. Demand a immediate response from the Colombian government to fulfill its promise to guarantee to the commission transportation to and safety in the affected area.

Direct your faxes or calls to

When dialing from the US, dial 011 to get an international line, then Colombia's country code (57) and then the eight-digit phone number.

Andres Pastrana
President of the Republic of Colombia
Fax:
  +57 (1) 283-7324
  +57 (1) 286-7434
  +57 (1) 287-7937
  +57 (1) 281-8262

Alberto Bell Lemos
Vice-president of the Republic of Colombia
Voice:
  +57 (1) 336-0311 (receptionist)

Jaime Bernal Cuellar
Procurador General de la Nacion
Voice:
  +57 (1) 352-0066
  +57 (1) 336-0011, ext. 2502

Alfonso Gomez Mendez
Fiscal General de la Nacion
Voice:
  +57 (1) 570-2000

Since October 20, 1999 paramilitary forces have been attacking the civilian populations in and around the municipalities of San Pablo and Simiti, Bolivar, Colombia. According to persons fleeing the violence, paramilitary forces have burned down the homes of persons in their path, and completely burned down the town of Paraiso, where they also murdered at least three persons. The total number of dead, according to information obtained by the regional early warning network, is over 15 persons. In the last 24 hours, in and around the town of Paraiso, a common grave with six cadavers was found. The cadavers are in the process of being identified. According to eye-witness testimony of residents and displaced persons, a military operative is being carried out in the same area while approximately 400 paramilitary forces control the roads, thereby prohibiting the entrance of food and medicine to the area.

According to the latest information, the situation has caused the displacement of more than 3000 persons. These persons are currently fleeing from the area through the wilderness towards other populations in the municipality of Cantagallo. Of the total number of displaced persons, approximately 1480 are children and 820 are women. They are completely defenseless and without food, medicine, clothing, bedding, personal hygiene items, and food for infants. The Asociacion Campesina del Valle del Rio Cimitarra is helping the displaced with what it can, but has limited resources.

Today in the city of Barrancabermeja various non-governmental organizations met to discuss this critical situation. This group formed a commission composed of representatives from various non-governmental organizations. It plans to travel to immediately to the affected area in order to investigate and document the situation. Colombian government officials promised the commission that it would provide transportation for it to reach the affected area, as well as protection for the commission while it carries out its work. However, the Colombian government has not yet fulfilled this promise. It is imperative that the commission be able to travel immediately to the area and that the Colombian government not delay its promise to provide transportation and protection. For this reason we request that the Colombian Government facilitate travel and protection to and in the affected area and that all sides in the conflict guarantee the necessary safeguards so that this investigation may be carried out in ta safe and secure manner.