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
--------------------------------------------------- 
30 September 1998

UA 259/98   Possible 'Disappearances'/ Fear for Safety

COLOMBIA
Juan Carlos GARZON PEREZ, 22 years old
Juan Guillermo GUARIN, 21 years old.


Juan Carlos Garzon and Juan Guillermo Guarin have not been seen
since they were reportedly forcibly abducted by members of a
paramilitary group as they travelled to El Penol, department of
Antioquia. Amnesty International fears for their safety

According to information just received, on 6 September 1998, Juan
Carlos Garzon and Juan Guillermo Guarin were returning from a
football match by bus to the municipality of El Penol, with other
members of their football team and their relatives. At approximately
5:45pm the bus was forced to stop by a group of 20 heavily-armed
men in an area known as La Vuelta del Tabor.

The armed men, believed to be members of a paramilitary
organization, forced the passengers off the bus and demanded to see
their identity documents. At this point they bound Juan Carlos Garzon
and Juan Guillermo and took them away. Despite attempts to trace
them, their whereabouts remain unknown.

It is reported that shortly before their 'disappearance', the two men
had  been accused of being guerrillas or guerrilla collaborators by
members of the El Penol police. Those accused of being guerrilla
sympathizers or collaborators by the security forces and their
paramilitary allies are frequently the victims of serious human rights
violations.

The 'disappearance' of the two men has raised fears for the safety of
other young members of the civilian population in the municipality of
El Penol who have also reportedly been accused of being guerrilla
collaborators by the police.

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

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters:
-expressing concern at the 'disappearance', reportedly by
paramilitaries, of Juan Carlos Garzon and Juan Guillermo Guarin on
6 September 1998 in an area known as La Vuelta del Tabor, and
expressing concern for the safety of other members of the civilian
population in the municipality of El Penol and neighbouring
municipalities;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into the 'disappearance'
of the two men, that the results be made public, and that those
responsible be brought to justice;
- 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:
Senor Presidente Andres Pastrana
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Narino,carrera 8 No. 7-26
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia

Dear President Pastrana:

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


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
Fax: 011 57 1 269 58 58/315 0249


Attorney General:
Dr.Alfonso Gomez Mendez
Fiscal General de la Nacion
Fiscalia General de la Nacion
Diagonal 22B 5201
Apartado Aereo 29855
Santafe de Bogota,Colombia

Dear Dr.:

Telegrams: Fiscal General, Fiscalia General, Bogota, Colombia
Faxes:    011 571 570 2017

COPIES TO:
Association for Relatives of the 'Disappeared':
Senores,
ASFADDES
AA 011446
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 November 11, 1998.

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