TAKE ACTION- Colombian Peasant Organization Members Detained
March 02, 2004
Luz Perly Cordoba*, President of the Arauca Campesino Association (ACA), who had accompanied members of the Colombia Solidarity Campaign on a human rights mission to Arauca in February 2003, has been detained by state forces. The organization’s office has been raided by police, which led to further detentions. We call on all individuals and organizations to express their deep dismay and disgust at the continued persecution of the social movement in Arauca, and call on the Colombian state to release Luz Perly Cordoba from detention immediately.
| Colombia Solidarity Campaign |
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| Arauca, Colombia |
Abuses against Human Rights Defenders in Arauca Continue.
19 February 2004
Luz Perly Cordoba*, President of the Arauca Campesino Association (ACA), who accompanied members of the Colombia Solidarity Campaign on a human rights mission to Arauca in February 2003, has been detained by state forces. The organization’s office has been raided by police, leading to further detentions. The "Joel Sierra Regional Human Rights Committee" attest to the following facts that constitute a continuation of the grave violation of human rights that is taking place in Arauca.
On 18 February, LUZ PERLY CORDOBA, President of the ACA was arrested in Bogotá. At the same time, the office of this organization in the municipality of Arauquita in the department of Arauca, was raided by personnel from the SJIN, CTI, DAS and the police. Unable to gain access to the building, the "security forces" went to the house of NUBIA VEGA, also a leader of the Arauca Campesino Association" raiding her house, photographing everyone they found there,and arresting VICTOR ENRIQUE AMARILLO, the organization’s body guard. They then returned to the office, where a secretary was forced to let them in, and confiscated computer equipment and discs, telephone bills, photographs and other information. The ACA is a legitimate social organization that is legally constituted. Through their human rights department, they have developed an arduous defense of the campesino sector, and are known for their defense of Life, Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. According to information received from ACA, two of the bodyguards assigned to Luz Perly by the Ministry of the Interior protection program have disappeared.
We urgently call on all national and international human rights organizations and on the office of the UNHCHR in Colombia to carry out an urgent evaluation and investigation into the Human Rights situation and the infringements of International Humanitarian Law in the region. We also call on the Colombian government immediately to release Luz Perly from custody, and to stop all further attacks against the social movement in Arauca. We call on all individuals and organizations to express their deep dismay and disgust at the continued persecution of the social movement in Arauca, and call on the Colombian state to release Luz Perly Cordoba from detention immediately.
*Note: Luz Perly Cordoba is the Human Rights Secretary of the national peasant organization FENSUAGRO as well.
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Please send letters to:
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Presidente de la República de Colombia:
Dr. Alvaro Uribe Velez
[Salutation: Excelentisimo Sr. Presidente/Dear President ]
Palacio de Nariño Carrera 8 No.7-26
Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 00 57 1 286 74 34/286, 68 42/284 21 86
E-mail: to send e-mail to Uribe login to http://www.presidencia.gov.co
and click on ESCRIBALE AL PRESIDENTE at the bottom of the page
Vicepresidente de la Republica de Colombia:
Francisco Santos
Presidential Human Rights Programme
Calle 7, No 654, Piso 3
Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 00 57 1 337 1351
E-mail: fsantos@presidencia.gov.co
Minister of Justice& the Interior
Sabas Pretelt de la Vega
Minister of Justice & the Interior
Palacio Echeverri,
Carrera 8a, No 8-09, piso 2o
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia e-mail: ministro@minjusticia.gov.co
E-mail: ministro@minjusticia.gov.co; minisint@col1.telecom.com.co;
Public Prosecutor
Dr Luis Camilo Osorio
E-mail:contacto@fiscalia.gov.co;
denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co;
webmaster@fiscalia.gov.co
Procurador General de la Nacion/Attorney General
Dr Edgardo Josi Maya Villazon Carrera
5 N0 15-80 F,
Santafe de Bogota,Colombia
Fax: 3429723
E-mail:anticorrupcion@presidencia.gov.co
Defensor del Pueblo / Public Defender
Dr Luis Eduardo Cifuentes
E-mail:secretaria_privada@hotmail.com; defensoria@defensoria.org.co
CC a copy to the Colombia Solidarity Campaign at
colombia_sc@hotmail.com and fensuagrocut@hotmail.com
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