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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
--------------------------------------------------- 
15 September 1998
UA 244/98 Fear for Safety / Possible Extrajudicial Execution
COLOMBIA

Seriously injured Evangelina ANDRADE (female)
Killed: Alcides JIMENEZ, Priest


Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of human rights and
peace activists in Puerto Caicedo and neighbouring municipalities
following the killing of Roman Catholic priest, Alcides Jimenez, on 11
September 1998.

Father Alcides Jimenez was killed by two gunmen as he celebrated
mass in the Nuestra Senora del Carmen parish church, municipality
of Puerto Caicedo, department of Putumayo. He was shot 18 times;
Evangelina Andrade, a church helper, was seriously injured in the
attack. The two gunmen, who fled on a motorcycle, reportedly
accused Father Alcides of being a 'guerrilla collaborator'.

Father Alcides Jimenez worked with several organizations and
communities in the region promoting peace and human rights. Hours
before his death, he participated in a march for peace.

An Amnesty International delegation met with Father Alcides Jimenez
and other members of the local Justice and Peace Commission
during a visit to the department of Putumayo in July 1998. Amnesty
International is seriously concerned for the safety of other members
of the Justice and Peace Commission in Puerto Caicedo as
paramilitary members have reportedly threatened to carry out more
killings.

Concern is further heightened by the fact that the Colombian
authorities have failed to take decisive action to dismantle
paramilitary groups operating in the region. Since the beginning of
1998, these groups have been responsible for the killing of many
people they consider to be guerrilla sympathizers and collaborators.
At the beginning of 1998, paramilitary members killed over 26
inhabitants of the neighbouring municipality of Puerto Asis,
department of Putumayo, who they accused of being guerrilla
collaborators and sympathizers.(See UA 52/98, AMR 23/09/98, 17
February 1998).

Since mid-August, it is reported that over 40 people have been the
victims of politically-motivated killings in the municipalities of Valle
del Guames and Puerto Asis, which neighbour Puerto Caicedo. It is
unclear who was in charge of these killings. The Fuerzas Armadas
Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia, the largest of Colombia's guerrilla organizations, has a
heavy presence in the department of Putumayo and has been
responsible for arbitrary and deliberate killings of civilians in the
region.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Members of the Colombian army and security forces and their
paramilitary allies continue to commit serious human rights violations
with virtual impunity. Over the past five years, several thousand
civilians have been killed by paramilitary groups throughout the
country. The Colombian Government suspended the legal base for
the formation of paramilitary organizations and issued directives to
the armed forces to combat and disband such groups in 1989, yet
they continue to operate with the support of the security forces in
many areas of the country. No effective steps have, as yet, been
taken by the authorities to control their actions and to hold members
accountable for serious and widespread human rights violations. The
Attorney General recently stated that more than 200 outstanding
arrest warrants issued against alleged paramilitary members
responsible for widespread human rights violations have still not been
acted upon by the security forces.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters:
- expressing concern at the killing of the Roman Catholic priest
Alcides Jimenez by unidentified gunmen on 11 September 1998 and
expressing concern for the safety of Evangelina Andrade;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into the killing of
Alcides Jimenez and the serious wounding of Evangelina Andrade, that the
results be made public, and that those responsible be brought to
justice;
- expressing concern for human rights and peace activists and the
civilian population of the municipality of Puerto Caicedo, department
of Putumayo;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into links between the
security forces and paramilitary groups operating in the area 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;
- 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 1 281 6316 / 289 3377 / 286 7434 (if voice answers
ask: 'me puede dar tono de fax por favor')


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 57 1 570 2000 (when ansaphone picks up dial 2017 for
fax)


Governor of the Department of Putumayo:
Sr. Jorge Devia Murcia
Gobernador del Departamento de Putumayo
Gobernacion de Putumayo
Mocoa
Putumayo
Colombia

Dear Governor:

Telegrams: Gobernador de Putumayo, Mocoa, Colombia


COPIES TO:
Intercongregational Commission for Justice and Peace
Comision Intercongregacional de Justicia y Paz
AA 31861
Santafe de Bogota,


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 27, 1998.

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