April 9, 1996 UPDATE: Three assassins (El Tigre, El Burro and El Alacran) are now in Apartadó with the explicit mission of murdering Gloria Cuartas. There was word last week of a 50 million peso (~$US50,000) contract out on her. Gloria has asked us to ask you to do whatever you can do -- fax the U.S. Ambassador and the State Department, contact any official whom you know who might also do so -- for now is the time to make it clear to the Colombian military and establishment that THE WORLD IS WATCHING APARTADÓ.
Easter, April 7, 1996 2230CDT -- A few minutes ago we spoke with Gloria Cuartas. "On Wednesday evening, paramilitary gunmen, firing indiscrimately from a pickup truck, murdered 11 people in the Policarpa neighborhood. Easter Thursday and Friday were horrible."
Minutes before we spoke tonight, she had gotten a call saying two trucks full of armed men were driving around Apartadó -- again.
Gloria Cuartas has spoken out forcefully and criticized the Colombian Government for refusing to stop the violence in Apartadó -- she has stated what many suspected all along -- the the paramilitary death squads are funded by some cattle ranchers and banana plantation owners, in alliance with druglord Fidel Castaņo.
The Army Commander now in charge of Uraba, General Ivan Ramirez Quintero, has had long ties with death squads in the Magdalena Medio region and elsewhere (source: El Terrorismo de Estado en Colombia, pp. 269-271, published in Belgium in 1992 by 10 NGOs). It would be no stretch of the imagination to believe that he is in collusion with druglord Fidel Castaņo. And this General has been trained in U.S. military institutions -- Sept to Dec 1983, he received a "strategic intelligence course" in Washington, D.C. (ibid, p. 271) The General in immediate power in Apartadó is now Rito Alejandro del Rio Rojas, A GRADUATE OF THE SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS! -- apparently General Victor Alvarez wasn't ruthless enough.
Because of her 'speaking truth to power', we fear for the safety of Gloria Cuartas. Her secretary was assassinated a few months ago. She is walking a tightrope that gets more dangerous day by day, attempting to bring peace to her town.
We ask that you a fax to the U.S. Ambassador, and to the State Department, stating your concern.
CSN asks that you state your concern for the safety of Gloria Cuartas (just chosen Colombian Woman of the Year), particularly at the command of U.S.-trained General Ramirez Quintero, and request that no visas be granted to either of these Generals, nor their families, for visits to the U.S. Request that the military attache contact General Ramirez Quintero and communicate your concern. Ask for a response.
Please send CSN a copy of your fax if possible and any response