Please read the monthly Urgent Action Network Newsletter posted 
on the web at: http://www.amnesty-USA.org/urgact/newslett.html 

Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
PO Box 1270
Nederland CO 80466-1270
Email: sharriso@aiusa.org
http://www.amnesty-usa.org/urgact/
Phone: 303 440 0913
Fax:303 258 7881
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UA 230/98   Fear for safety/Death threats  27 August 1998

COLOMBIA  July Gonzalez Villadiego (f), Rafael Pena, Olimpo
Cardenas, Alvaro Pulido, Ana Cecilia Escorcia (f), Miguel Gonzalez,
Segundo Mora, Ivan Ferreira, Jesus Arias, Raul Malagon, Hector
Florez, Mauricio Alvarez, Edgar Rodriguez, Orlando Romero, Jesus
Arevalo, Alvaro Quintero, Emidgio Triana - all members of the
National Executive of the Union Nacional de Empleados Bancarios
(UNEB), National Bank Workers' Union, other UNEB members, and
          Domingo Rafael Tovar Arrieta, a leader of the Central
Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), Trade Union Confederation


There is serious concern for the safety of the the above-named
leaders of the Union Nacional de Empleados Bancarios (UNEB),
National Bank Workers' Union, after they received death threats,
reportedly issued by a paramilitary organization.

On 13 August 1998 an anonymous phonecaller made death threats
against July Gonzalez Villadiego and her partner, Domingo Rafael
Tovar Arrieta, a leader of the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT),
Trade Union. On 15 August, the couple received further telephone
death threats.

A fax sent to the CUT offices on 21 August accused the UNEB and
members of its National Executive of being 'guerrilla auxiliaries' and
declared that the UNEB and its National Executive were now military
targets.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
For many years trade unionists, human rights workers, members of
legal opposition groups and popular activists in Colombia have
frequently been accused of being guerrilla sympathizers or auxiliaries
by the security and armed forces. Such accusations have frequently
been followed by serious human rights violations, often perpetrated by
the security forces' paramilitary allies.

Members of the Colombian army and security forces and their
paramilitary allies continue to commit serious human rights violations
with virtual impunity. The Colombian Government suspended the
constitutional legal base for the formation of paramilitary organizations
and issued directives to the armed forces to combat and disband such
groups in 1989. Yet these groups continue to work with the support of
the security forces in many areas of the country.

No effective steps have been taken by the authorities as yet to control
the  actions of such gropus and to hold their members accountable for
the serious and widespread human rights violations they commit. The
Attorney General recently stated that more than 200 arrest warrants
issued against alleged paramilitary members in connection with human
rights violations have still not been acted upon by the security forces.

Colombia's new President, Andres Pastrana, took office on 8 August
1998. So far, he and his government have not taken any steps or made
any commitments to tackle the country's long running human rights
crisis.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters:
- expressing concern for the safety of Domingo Rafael Tovar Arrieta, a
leader of the CUT, the members of the National Executivec of UNEB
(name some of them) and all other UNEB members in the light of the
repeated death threats made against them;
- calling on the authorities to take all steps deemed appropriate by
those under threat themselves to guarantee their safety;
- urging that all threats against the above named trade unionists be
fully and impartially investigated and that those responsible be brought
to justice;
 - calling for a full and impartial investigation into links between the
security forces and paramilitary groups and urging that those found
responsible for supporting and participating in such groups be brought
to justice;
- urging that the authorities take immediate action to dismantle
paramilitary groups, in line with stated government commitments;
- calling on President Pastrana's government to take immediate and
decisive action to tackle Colombia's human rights crisis;
- reminding Colombia's new government of the country's commitment
to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular Article 3:
'Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.'

APPEALS TO:
President of Colombia:
Dr. Andres Pastrana Arango
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Narino
Carrera 8 No. 7-26
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia

Dear President Pastrana:

Telegrams: President Pastrana, Bogota, Colombia
Telexes: 396 44281 PALP CO
Faxes:    011 57 1 284 2186 / 289 3377 / 286 7434


Minister of the Interior:
Dr. Nestor Humberto Martinez
Ministro del Interior
Ministerio del Interior
Carrera 8, No.8-09, Piso 2
Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA

Dear Minister:

Telegrams: Ministro del Interior, Bogota, Colombia
Telexes:   396 45406 MINGO CO
Fax: 011 57 1 281 5884 / 286 6524 / 286 0405


Minister of Defense:
Dr. Rodrigo Lloreda Caicedo
Ministro de Defensa Nacional
Ministerio de Defensa Nacional
Avenida Eldorado CAN - Carrera 52
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia

Dear Minister:

Telegrams: Ministro de Defensa, Bogota, Colombia
Telexes: 396 42411 INPRE CO / 396 44561 CFAC CO
Faxes:    011 57 1 222 1874 / 288 4906


Attorney General:
Dr.Alfonso Gomez Mendez
Fiscal General de la Nacion
Fiscalia General de la Nacion
Diagonal 22B 5201
Santafe de Bogota,Colombia

Dear Dr.:

Telegrams: Fiscal General, Fiscalia General, Bogota, Colombia
Faxes:    011  571 570 2000 (when ansaphone picks up dial 2017 for fax)

COPIES TO:
Trade Union:
Union Nacional de Empleados Bancarios
Calle 28 No. 16-34
Bogota, Colombia

Ambassador Juan Carlos Esguerra
Embassy of Colombia
2118 Leroy Pl. NW
Washington DC 20008

Please send appeals immediately. Check with the Colorado office
between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if
sending appeals after October 8, 1998.

'Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.'
Article 3, Universal Declaration of Human Rights