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
--------------------------------------------------- 
21 September 1998
Further information on UA 62/98 issued 2 March 1998 
Fear for Safety/Extrajudicial Execution

COLOMBIA       
Jesus Maria Valle Jaramillo


Amnesty International has received information on the arrest of
several people in connection with the killing on 27 February 1998 in
Medellin, department of Antioquia, of human rights lawyer Jesus
Maria Valle Jaramillo.

On 4 August 1998, officials of the Fiscalia Regional de Medellin,
Regional Office of the Attorney General of Medellin, arrested four
people accused of involvement in the killing. On 15 September, the
Office of the Attorney General announced the detention of two
brothers also accused of participating in the killing.

Two of those arrested are reportedly cattle-ranchers in the
municipality of Ituango. The two brothers recently arrested are
believed to be paramilitary leaders from the north-west of the
department of Antioquia. Jesus Maria Valle Jaramillo was killed after
denouncing paramilitary attacks in the municipality of Ituango and the
close links between the paramilitary and the security forces.

Amnesty International welcomes progress being made in the criminal
investigation into the killing of Jesus Maria Valle, but is concerned
that the investigations should be completed and that all those
involved in the killing, including those who ordered and planned the
crime, should be brought to justice.

In the past, the Colombian authorities have frequently failed to bring
those responsible for serious human rights violations to justice.
International and national campaigning by Amnesty International and
other non-governmental human rights organizations has played a part
in ensuring that advances in the investigations are made. Further
campaigning is still necessary to ensure that all those responsible are
brought to justice.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: 
Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters:

- welcoming advances into the judicial investigations into the killing of
Jesus Maria Valle Jaramillo;

- expressing concern that these investigations should be completed
and that all those involved in the killing be brought to justice;

- expressing concern that all measures deemed appropriate by
human rights defenders themselves are taken to guarantee their
safety;

- reminding Colombia's new government of its obligation to uphold 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
Tx: 396 44281 PALP CO
Fax: 011 57 1 284 2186/289 3377/286 7434/


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


Governor 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 Departamento, Antioquia, Colombia
Faxes:    011 57 4 381 1342

In appeals to the Governor of Antioquia, acknowledge that although
guerrilla forces in Colombian have violated international humanitarian
law, this in no way justifies human rights violations by the Colombian
security forces and their paramilitary allies.

COPIES TO:
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 2, 1998.

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