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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27 October 1998
UA 276/98  Fear for safety / 'Disappearance'/ Extrajudicial execution


COLOMBIA
'Disappeared': Victor Velasquez, Jesus Libardo Duque and possibly
13 others

Killed:   Raul Abad
     Jesus Maria Urrego Gomez
     Mariano Bedoya Velasquez
     Manuel Eduardo Salazar
     Carlos Serna Jimenez
     Jesus Maria Cano
     Jaime Botero Garcia
     Rocio Giraldo
     Mario Rosco Giraldo
     Graciliano Giraldo


On 25 October 1998, a paramilitary force attacked the town of San
Carlos and its surrounding villages, in the municipality of San Carlos
in the east of Antioquia Department. The 10 members of the civilian
population named above were reportedly summarily executed and as
many as 15 others were abducted. There is grave concern for the
safety of those who were abducted as their whereabouts remain
unknown.

According to information received, on the afternoon of 24 October a
heavily armed, 100-strong paramilitary force belonging to the
Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), United Self-defence
Forces of Colombia, set up a road block outside the town of San
Carlos, effectively stopping all traffic from entering the town. In the
early hours of 25 October the paramilitary force  entered the town and
shot dead the 1O civilians named above and forcibly abducted Victor
Velasquez, Jesus Libardo Duque and possibly 13 others whose
names were on a lista negra, 'black list' in their possession. 'Black
lists' contain the names of civilians considered by paramilitary forces
to be guerrilla sympathizers or collaborators. Those whose names
are included in such lists are frequently killed.

There is also concern for the safety of the civilian population living in
villages around the town of San Carlos where the paramilitary force is
reported to have carried out simultaneous attacks.

Despite the fact that the area is heavily-militarized, no apparent effort
was made by the army to confront the paramilitary force which
reached the town in seven pickup trucks.

Rumours of an impending paramilitary attack began to circulate in
San Carlos on 25 September 1998 when a helicopter flew over the
region, dropping leaflets warning the inhabitants of the eastern
Antioquia municipalities of San Carlos, San Luis, Cocorna, Granada,
San Francisco and San Vicente that forces of the AUC would be
coming to kill all guerrilla collaborators. At the beginning of October, a
commission made up of local municipal authorities travelled to
Medellin, the department capital, to seek increased protection for
their community from the authorities.

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.  Despite the Colombian Government's suspension of the
legal base for the formation of paramilitary organizations and, in
1989,  directives to the armed forces to combat and disband such
groups, 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 or to hold
members accountable for serious and widespread human rights
violations.  In addition, President Andres Pastrana, who took office on
8 August this year has yet to take effective steps to tackle the
country's long-running human rights crisis.

According to the Attorney General, more than 200 outstanding arrest
warrants, issued to alleged paramilitary members responsible for
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 for the safety of Victor Velasquez, Jesus
Libardo Duque and possibly 13 other members of the civilian
population of San Carlos, Antioquia Department, who were reportedly
abducted by a paramilitary force on 25 October 1998;
- expressing grave concern at the reported summary execution of 10
civilians named above by the paramilitary force in the attack on San
Carlos;
- calling for appropriate measures to be taken to protect the civilian
populations of the municipalities of San Carlos, San Luis, Cocorna,
Granada, San Francisco and San Vicente in Antioquia Department;
- calling for a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the killings
and the 'disappearances', that the whereabouts of the 'disappeared'
be established, that the results of the investigation 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
Telexes: 396 44281 PALP CO
Faxes:    011 57 1 284 2186/289 3377/286 7434/


Minister of Defense:
Dr. Rodrigo Lloreda
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


Governor of the Department of Antioquia:
Dr. Alberto Builes Ortega
Gobernador del Departamento de Antioquia
Gobernacion de Antioquia
Calle 42B, # 52-106
Medellin, Antioquia
Colombia

Dear Governor:

Telegrams: Gobernador de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
Fax:  011 574 381 1342


COPIES TO:
Attorney General:
Dr.Alfonso Gomez Mendez
Fiscal General de la Nacion
Fiscalia General de la Nacion
AA 29855
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 December 8, 1998.

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