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
--------------------------------------------------- 
2 December 1998
Further information on UA 276/98 issued 27 October 1998 -Fear for
safety/ 'Disappearance' / Extrajudicial execution

COLOMBIA

Killed:
Victor Velasquez    ]
Jesus Libardo Duque ] initially reported as 'disappeared'

[Please note changes to names of those killed]: Raul Abad Arias, Jorge
Guzman, Jesus Maria Urrego Gomez, Mariano Bedoya Velasquez,
Manuel Eduardo Salazar, Carlos Alberto Arias Serna, Jesus Maria
Cano, Jaime Alberto Botero Garcia, Maria Rocio Giraldo Castano,
Graciliano Giraldo


The bodies of Victor Velasquez and Jesus Libardo Duque were
reportedly discovered on 28 October 1998, three days after they were
forcibly abducted by a paramilitary group during an attack on the town
of San Carlos, Antioquia Department. They had been tortured.

Ten inhabitants of San Carlos were killed in the attack by Autodefensas
Unidas de Colombia (AUC), United Self-defence Forces of Colombia.
Contrary to earlier reports, it appears that no one else was abducted.

Several of those killed had apparently been active in local civic
organizations protesting about the impact on their communities of large
development projects such as the Punchina hydroelectric dam, near
San Carlos. During the 1980s many of those who campaigned against
the construction of the dam were reportedly victims of serious human
rights violations. The bodies of Victor Velasquez and Jesus Libardo
Duque were discovered at the dam.

For many years popular activists campaigning for socio-economic
rights in Colombia have been labelled guerrilla sympathizers by
army-backed paramilitary forces, who have committed serious human
rights violations against them. Guerrilla organisations themselves have
also attacked community members.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters:
-expressing grave concern at the reported extrajudicial execution of the
12 civilians named above by the paramilitary force during and after the
attack on the town of San Carlos, Antioquia Department on 25 October
1998;
-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,
for
the results to be made public, and for those responsible to be brought
to justice;
-asking to be informed of the progress of any investigation that is
underway;
-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:                   (SALUTATION)
President of Colombia:             (Dear President)
Senor Presidente Andres Pastrana
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Narino
carrera 8 No. 7-26
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia

Telegrams:  President Pastrana, Bogota, Colombia
Tx: 396   44281 PALP CO
Fax: 011 57 1 284 2186/289 3377/286 7434


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

Telegrams: Fiscal General, Fiscalia General, Bogota, Colombia
Faxes:    011 571 570 2022


Minister of the Interior:                (Sr. Ministro/Dear Minister)
Dr. Nestor Humberto Martinez
Ministro del Interior
Ministerio del Interior
Carrera 8, No.8-09, Piso 2
Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA

Telegrams: Ministro del Interior, Bogota, Colombia
Telexes:   396 45406 MINGO CO
Fax: 011 57 1 281 5884 / 286 6524 / 286 0405 / 286 0053 / 341 9739


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

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

COPIES TO:
Alternative Legal Association:                 SEMBRAR,              AA
34692,              Santafe deBogota,
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 January 13, 1998.

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