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
--------------------------------------------------- 
This is a limited action.  Please only send one appeal to one of the
officials listed below. We are only sending this to a few Urgent Action
participants and hope you can write one appeal on this action. You
are also asked to copy your appeal to one or more of the officials
listed in the 'Copies to:' section below. Thanks!

UA 234/98      Fear for Safety / Death threats    3 September 1998

COLOMBIA

Alfonso MORA LEON                 }
Dolores MONCALEANO DE MORA      }parents of Jenner Alfonso
MORA MONCALEANO
Clara Ines GOMEZ    }mother of Juan Carlos
Palacios GOMEZ  (murdered)


The opening of criminal investigations against police officers accused
of the extrajudicial execution of six youths in Bogota in 1996 has
coincided with repeated death threats against the three above-named
relatives of the victims.

There is serious concern for their safety because relatives and
witnesses of human rights violations committed by the security forces
have often been victim to serious human rights violations and
intimidation by those responsible, as a means of ensuring that
criminal investigations are not advanced.

According to information received, the six youths: Jenner Alfonso
Mora Moncaleano, Vladimir Zambrano Pinzon, Juan Carlos Palacios
Gomez, Arquimedes Moreno Moreno, Martin Alonso Valdivieso
Barrera and Federico Quezada were tortured and killed in different
parts of Bogota between 5 and 7 September 1996.  They were
reportedly suspected of membership of an urban cell of the Fuerzas
Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia, armed opposition group.

In July 1998 the Office of the Attorney General initiated criminal
investigations against a Colombian Police captain, seven police
agents and a civilian for the abduction, torture and extrajudicial
execution of the six youths.

Alfonso Mora Leon and his wife Dolores Moncaleano de Mora were
initially protected under the Office of the Attorney General's (Fiscalia
General de la Nacion) witness protection scheme, from December
1997 to May 1998, enabling them to live outside Bogota.  However,
they rejected an alternative protection plan offered to them as
unsuitable which amounted to a very restrictive lifestyle.

Alfonso Mora reportedly fled the capital on 27 August, the day he was
due to testify at the Office of the Attorney General, after he was
informed that an attempt on his life would be made after testifying.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

During the course of the conflict in Colombia, the security forces and
their paramilitary allies have been responsible for serious human
rights violations against those they consider to be guerrilla
sympathizers or 'collaborators'.

Although Colombia's new President, Andres Pastrana, took office on
8 August 1998 his government has failed to take steps or make any
commitment to tackle the long-running human rights crisis.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send 
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters:
- expressing concern for the safety of Alfonso Mora Leon, Dolores
Moncaleano de Mora, Clara Ines Gomez and other relatives of the six
extrajudicially executed youths;
- urging that all measures deemed appropriate by those under threat
be taken to guarantee their safety quoting Article 3 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights: 'Everyone has the right to life, liberty
and security of person';
- urging full and impartial investigations into the death threats against
the relatives, that the results be made public and that those
responsible be brought to justice.

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 1 281 6316 / 289 3377 / 286 7434 (if voice answers
ask 'me puede dar tono de fax por favor)


Director General of the Police:
Brigadier Rosso Jose Serrano Cadena
Director General de la Policia Nacional
Tr. 45, No. 40-11
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia

Dear Sir:

Telegrams:  Dir.Gen. Policia Nacional, Bogota, Colombia
Faxes:    011  57 1 315 0249

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 5 71 570 2000 (when ansaphone picks up dial 2017 for
fax)

COPIES TO:
Lawyers' Association:
Corporacion Colectivo de Abogados
AA 44456
Santafe de 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 15, 1998.

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