Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 09:19:33 -0500
Subject: Third follow-up to EX 12/99 on Colombia
U R G E N T A C T I O N F O L L O W U P A P P E A L
The following information is from Amnesty International's research
headquarters in London, England. A.I. is an independent worldwide
movement working for the international protection of human rights.
It
seeks the release of people detained because of their beliefs, color,
sex, ethnic origin, language or religious creed, provided they have not
used nor advocated violence. These are termed prisoners of
conscience. It works for fair and prompt trials for all political
prisoners and works on behalf of such people detained without
charge or trial. It opposes the death penalty, extra-judicial executions
(political killings), 'disappearances' and torture or other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners
without reservation. Amnesty International promotes awareness of
and adherance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
other internationally recognized human rights instruments, the
values enshrined in them and the indivisibility and interdependence
of all human rights and freedoms.
Please do not repost the information below to any part of the
Internet
without prior permission from Amnesty International. Thank you for
your help with this appeal.
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
---------------------------------------------------
9 February 1999
Further information on EXTRA 12/99 issued 29 January 1999 and
re-
issued 4 February 1999
Fear for safety/'disappearance'
COLOMBIA
Jairo Bedoya ] Human rights workers with
Jorge Salazar ] the Instituto Popular de
Capacitacion (IPC),
Olga Rodas - released ] Popular Training
Claudia Tamayo - released ] Institute
On 8 February 1999 Olga Rodas and Claudia Tamayo, two human
rights defenders abducted by paramilitaries on 28 January, were
released. Amnesty International remains gravely concerned,
however, for the safety of Jairo Bedoya and Jorge Salazar, who
remain hostages.
Olga Rodas and Claudia Tamayo, both reported to be in good health,
were released into the care the International Committee for the Red
Cross (ICRC) in Cordoba Department.
On 1 February, Carlos Castano, the head of the paramilitary
organization Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), United Self-
Defence Forces of Colombia claimed responsibility for the abductions
and said they were holding the four as 'prisoners of war'. He
threatened human rights defenders in Colombia and said 'La
retencion de los miembros de IPC ...marca el inicio de una
lamentable, pero inevitable etapa del conflicto...' (their abduction
marked the beginning of a regrettable but inevitable stage in the
conflict).
Following the release of Olga Rodas and Claudia Tamayo, relatives
of all those abducted said in a press statement: 'Si bien hoy nos
regocijamos, seguimos aqui a la espera, con la exigencia de la
libertad inmediata de Jorge y Jairo, que al igual que ellas no tienen
por que ser secuestrodos bajo el pretexto de una guerra que no
comparten y ante la cual se han declarado neutrales activos'.(Even
though we are happy today, we still demand the immediate release
of
Jorge and Jairo who have been taken hostage for no reason on the
pretext of a war in which they are not involved and which they have
declared themselves to be actively neutral)
The Instituto Popular de Capacitacion (IPC), Popular Training
Institute recently wrote to thank Amnesty International for its
support:
'Todo el apoyo y solidaridad que nos han brindado ha sido y seguira
siendo de vital importancia para garantizar la vida e integridad de
nuestros companeros y campaneras de trabajo secuestrados......su
trabajo y vos de aliento nos han hecho sentir que no estamos solos,
que hacemos parte de un gran colectivo de hombres y mujeres que
laboran dia a dia por hacer de Colombia un territorio de paz' (All the
support and solidarity which you have shown us will continue to be
of
vital importance to guarantee the life and physical integrity of our
kidnapped workmates... Your work and voice encourage us to feel
that we are not alone, and that we are part of a great collective of
men and women that work day by day to make Colombia a land of
peace); 'Todos esas llamadas, esos faxes, correos electronicos,
todos los recursos y tiempo dispuestos hacia nosotros, refuerza aun
mas nuestro compromiso por coayudar en la construccion de una
Colombia mejor, justa y pacifica.' (All those calls, faxes, e-mails, all
those resources and time spent on us, strengthen even more our
commitment to help construct a better, just and peaceful Colombia);
and 'La vida e intergridad de nuestros companeros y companeras de
trabajo, asi como otros Colombianos y Colombianas anonimos ante
los medios, depende en granparte de toda esa solidaridad y
compania que nos hand brindado' (The life and physical integrity of
our workmates, as with other Colombians who receive no attention in
the media, depend in large part on this solidarity and
accompaniment
which you have shown us).
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters:
- acknowledging the release of Olga Rodas and Claudia Tamayo on 8
February 1999 by the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC),
United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia but, nevertheless,
condemning the abduction of the four human rights defenders;
- calling on the authorities to take immediate action to ensure the
release of Jairo Bedoya and Jorge Salazar;
- expressing grave concern for the safety of all human rights
defenders after recent threats made by the AUC and asking for
improved protection in line with United Nations recommendations
and
as agreed by the government;
- expressing concern that the recent abduction and killing of
Colombian human rights defenders demonstrate that government
steps to protect them are insufficient and ineffective;
- saying that human rights defenders will continue to be the targets
of
attacks by paramilitaries unless effective action is taken to dismantle
paramilitary groups.
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 Defence
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
Minister of the Interior
Dr. Nestor Humberto Martinez
Ministro del Interior
Ministerio del Interior
Carrera 8, No.8-09, Piso 2
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Dear Minister:
Telegrams: Ministro del Interior, Bogota, Colombia
Telexes: 396 45406 MINGO CO
Faxes: 011 57 1 281 5884 / 286 6524 / 286 0405 / 286 0053 /
341
9739
COPIES TO:
Instituto Popular de Capacitacion (IPC)
Apartado Aereo 9690
Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno
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 March 4, 1999.
Amnesty Releases on Colombia |
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