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 October 1998

UA 281/98 Fear for safety/Possible extrajudicial execution

COLOMBIA
Rosalba de Indauro (female)
Members of Comite de Derechos Humanos del Municipio de
Curumani, the Curumani Human Rights Committee

Donaldo Quiroz Veleno (male), human rights defender, killed


Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the safety of
members of the Comite de Derechos Humanos del Municipio de
Curumani, Curumani Human Rights Committee, following the killing
of its secretary, Donaldo Quiroz Veleno. There are also concerns for
his friend Rosalba de Indauro.

On 17 October 1998, members of a paramilitary group calling itself
the Autodefensas Campesinas del Cesar, Cesar Peasant Self-
Defence Groups, tried to stop Donaldo Quiroz Veleno as he cycled to
Rosalba de Indauro's house in the community of San Roque,
Curumani municipality, department of Cesar. Donaldo Quiroz then
fled on foot to his friend's house.

Soon after, members of the paramilitary group forced their way into
Rosalba de Indauro's house. They found Donaldo Quiroz Veleno
hiding in one of the rooms and killed him with several shots to the
head.

Amnesty International is concerned that a paramilitary group could
carry such an attack despite the municipal police station being
situated nearby.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The armed forces and their paramilitary allies have frequently
accused human rights activists of being guerrilla sympathizers. Such
accusations are often followed by serious human rights violations.

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 has suspended the legal basis for the
formation of paramilitary organizations and, in 1989, it issued
directives to the armed forces to combat and disband such groups.
Yet paramilitary groups 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 Rosalba de Indauro and
members of the Human Rights Committee of the Municipality of
Curumani following the killing of Donaldo Quiroz Veleno on 17
October 1998, reportedly by members of a paramilitary group;
- calling for measures deemed appropriate by those under threat, to
be taken to protect their safety;
- calling for a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the killing
of
Donaldo Quiroz Veleno, 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: 42411 INPRE CO; 44561 CFAC CO
Faxes: 011 57 1 222 1874


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:
Alternative Legal Association:
MINGA
AA 40303
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 11, 1998.

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