On April 13 of this year, the Attorney General’s Office of Colombia attacked Senator Piedad Córdoba with absurd and unfounded accusations while she was out of the country. She was in Europe for the European Tour for Peace in Colombia and the Humanitarian Agreement (EUROPAZ2010), seeking support to promote peace in her country and a non-military solution to the armed conflict. This happened just a few weeks after she served as a mediator, securing the freedom of soldiers being held by the belligerent forces of the FARC.

STATEMENT IN DEFENCE OF PIEDAD CÓRDOBA

In the face of unfair and false accusations of the Attorney General’s Office of Colombia, against this defender of peace, human rights, a humanitarian agreement and a non-military solution to the Colombian conflict:

We reject the accusations made by the Attorney General’s Office of Colombia against Senator PIEDAD CÓRDOBA RUIZ on April 13, 2010, which is accused of having defended and maintained ties to the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) organization beyond what we believe is reasonable and necessary for negotiations in order to secure the release of soldiers being held by FARC.

The aim of these accusations is to immobilize and neutralize the activities of peace organizations in Colombia, such as the one represented by Senator Piedad Córdoba. It is part of a plan designed by Colombia’s DAS (Department of Administrative Security), which includes all forms of intimidation, extortion and death threats against anyone who opposing the narco-paramilitary government of Alvaro Uribe Velez and its policy of war. Uribe’s attack on the Senator foreshadows the “chuzadas” or wiretapping scandal of DAS aimed to eliminate judges, journalists and politicians opposed to the criminal government.

The accusations are baseless and absurd. The Attorney General’s Office alleged ‘proof’ was obtained on March 1, 2008 from laptop computers which the Colombian government claims was recovered following the illegal bombing of a FARC encampment carried out on Ecuadorian territory. According to INTERPOL, Uribe’s ‘proof’ does not meet internationally recognized standards for handling electronic evidence, the computers and hard drives from which data is obtained, and the chain of custody of information contained within them. These computers were tampered by Colombian authorities.

Uribe’s ‘proof’ was used to persecute and suppress many opponents within the Colombian parliament, such as Jorge Robledo, Gloria Inés Ramírez and Jaime Caycedo of the centre-left party “Polo Democrático”.

Senator Piedad Córdoba has recently completed the first leg of her European Tour for Peace in Colombia and the Humanitarian Agreement (EUROPAZ2010), which has received enormous support internationally. The tour has been a success and has even exceeded expectations for obtaining support for the cause of peace in Colombia. These attacks launched by Uribe, however baseless and absurd, will not deter the senator from the struggle in Colombia or negatively impact her support from the hundreds of social organizations around the world devoted to peace and social justice. On the contrary, Uribe’s attacks will help to increase her support and strengthen solidarity with the people of Colombia.

In defence of peace, a humanitarian agreement and a non-military solution to the armed conflict in Colombia, we firmly support the policies and aims of this senator and her organization, “Colombianas y Colombianos por la Paz”  (Colombians for Peace).

In the interests of peace and social justice for the Colombian people, we denounce and strenuously request that the accusations unjustly made through the Attorney General’s Office of Colombia be withdrawn immediately.

With Piedad Córdoba, with the organization “Colombianas y Colombianos por la Paz”, with the peoples organizations of Colombia, and our friends internationally who fight for peace, a humanitarian agreement, and a just and non-military solution to the armed conflict in Colombia, we declare and maintain our support for change in Colombia. We endorse this statement by listing our names below.

http//www.apoyoapiedadcordoba.net

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COMUNICADO EN DEFENSA DE PIEDAD CÓRDOBA.

Ante las  injustas y falsas acusaciones de la Procuraduría General de la Nación de Colombia, contra la defensora de la paz, los Derechos Humanos, el Acuerdo Humanitario, y una salida no militar al conflicto colombiano.

Los/as abajo firmantes, rechazamos las acusaciones formuladas por la Procuraduría General de Colombia contra la senadora PIEDAD CÓRDOBA RUIZ el día 13 de abril de 2010, según las cuales la senadora habría incurrido en apología y tendría vínculos con la organización de las FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia), más allá de lo razonable y lo necesario en las gestiones realizadas en la mediación con este grupo armado para la liberación de varios militares retenidos.

Estas acusaciones, que tienen la finalidad de inmovilizar o entorpecer la acción de las organizaciones de activistas por la paz en Colombia, como la que representa la senadora Piedad Córdoba, se enmarcan en un plan previamente diseñado por el DAS (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad) de Colombia, que incluye  todo tipo de presión, extorsión y amenazas a todo lo que representa la oposición al Gobierno y su política guerrerista. En este sentido, no existe duda alguna de la relación entre esta acusación contra Piedad Córdoba y el escándalo de las llamadas “chuzadas” del DAS a magistrados, periodistas y políticos de la oposición colombiana.

Por otra parte, se trata de unas acusaciones infundadas y absurdas, toda vez que la Procuraduría obtiene las pruebas en informaciones contenidas en las supuestas computadoras que el Gobierno colombiano dice que recuperó, tras el bombardeo ilegal que ejecutó contra Ecuador el pasado 1 de marzo de 2008, bajo la excusa de desmantelar un campamento temporal de las FARC. El acceso a los datos de dichas computadoras, no se ajustó a los principios reconocidos internacionalmente para el tratamiento de pruebas electrónicas por parte de los organismos encargados de la aplicación de la ley, según informes oficiales de la propia INTERPOL. Es decir, en el tratamiento de las computadoras y los discos duros, se rompió la cadena de custodia de la información contenida.

Este mismo recurso fue empleado por el Gobierno de Uribe para perseguir y reprimir a muchos opositores de su gobierno, como Jorge Robledo, Gloria Inés Ramírez y el concejal Jaime Caycedo (los tres del partido Polo Democrático).

La senadora Piedad Córdoba acaba de finalizar la primera parte de la Gira Europea por la Paz en Colombia y el Acuerdo Humanitario, EUROPAZ2010, que tiene un enorme respaldo social internacional, viendo ampliamente cumplidas sus expectativas en la búsqueda y obtención de apoyos para la causa de la Paz para Colombia. En este sentido, cualquier acusación contra Piedad Córdoba, por dura y absurda que parezca, no conseguirá que la senadora desista en la causa justa de la lucha por paz, ni reducirá un ápice el apoyo que ella tiene entre las centenares de organizaciones sociales, sino más bien al contrario, contribuirá a ir en aumento.

Apoyamos decididamente la lucha de esta senadora y su organización, Colombianas y Colombianos por la Paz, en la defensa de la Paz, el Acuerdo Humanitario y la salida no militar del conflicto armado que vive Colombia.

En aras de la paz y de la justicia para el pueblo colombiano, rechazamos y solicitamos enérgicamente que se retiren, de manera inmediata,  las acusaciones injustamente formuladas por la Procuraduría de Colombia en contra de la Senadora Piedad Córdoba.

Con Piedad Córdoba, con la organización Colombianas y Colombianos por la Paz, y con las organizaciones y personas de Colombia y del mundo que luchan por la paz, el acuerdo humanitario y una salida no militar y con justicia al conflicto armado de Colombia, mantenemos el apoyo y nos adherimos al presente comunicado.

http//www.apoyoapiedadcordoba.net

CounterPunch, April 26, 2010

In his book, Colombia: the Genocidal Democracy, Father Javier Girardo, a Jesuit priest and long-time human rights activist in Colombia, estimated that, between 1988 and 1995, more than 60,000 Colombians lost their lives to the internal conflict in Colombia – most of them at the hands of the state, either in the form of the official Colombian military or the paramilitary forces supported by the state.

As for the Colombian state’s support for the paramilitaries, also known as “death squads,” that is well-known. Thus, as the U.S. State Department has concluded in its annual human rights reports, the paramilitaries have received active support from the Colombian government and from the Colombian military which has provided the paramilitaries with weapons, ammunition, logistical support and even with soldiers. Given that the U.S. has aided the Colombian military with over $7 billion in military assistance since 2000, all the while knowing the military’s close collaboration with the murderous paramilitaries, the U.S. itself is complicit in the paramilitaries’ crimes.

The extent of the Colombian state’s connections with the paramilitaries continues to be exposed, with former paramilitary leaders revealing the heights of the government support for their activities. Within the past days, for example, former paramilitary commander Salvatore Mancuso confirmed that the current Colombian Vice-President, Francisco Santos, and the Defense Minister, Juan Manual Santos, had close ties with the paramilitary forces. Juan Manual Santos is expected to be the next President of Colombia.

Up till recently, the prevailing estimate of civilians killed specifically by the paramilitaries has been around 30,000. Father Girardo, citing new estimates by Colombia’s own Prosecutor General, has now shattered those original estimates, announcing that the Prosecutor General is currently investigating 150,000 extrajudicial killings by the paramilitary groups – killings which took place between the late 1980’s and the current time. Even the prior, more conservative estimates would have made Colombia the worst human rights abuser in South America in recent times, having victimized more than Argentina’s fascist junta and Chile’s Pinochet dictatorship.

The new estimates place Colombia in a category all of its own as the worst human rights abuser in the Western Hemisphere. And, in terms of peoples internally displaced as a result of the conflict in Colombia – over 4 million – Colombia ranks only second in the world to the Sudan. And, not too surprisingly given the U.S.’s usual support for the worst human rights abusers, the Washington Post reported in an article by Juan Forero on April 19, 2010, that Colombia is “Washington’s closest ally on the continent.”

In this same Washington Post article, Forero relates that, even as the U.S. has provided Colombia with massive amounts of assistance – most of it military, of course – Colombia has continued to slip deeper and deeper into poverty, with 43% of its population now living in poverty and 23% living in “extreme poverty.” As the Washington Post explained, Colombia is “the only major country in Latin America in which the gap between the rich and poor has increased in recent years, according to a report by the UN Economic Commission on Latin America.”

Of course, as Father Girardo noted in The Genocidal Democracy – a book which is sadly out of print – this is all according to Washington’s plan to make Colombia a compliant country open to unchecked exploitation by U.S. companies with an endless well of hunger for Colombia’s vast reserves of oil, coal, fruits, flowers and precious metals and gems, as well as for a desperate workforce willing to accept barely-subsistent wages.

With President Obama continuing to solidify the U.S.’s relationship with Colombia through a new deal which will give the U.S. access to 7 military bases, and through a Free Trade Agreement which Obama is now pushing, despite his campaign pledges to oppose it, this deadly game plan continues unabated. Only massive resistance in this country can end such destructive foreign policies.

* * *

As this article was going to publication, we learned that Javier Girardo, and his human rights group, Justicia y Paz, have received death threats in retaliation for the above-mentioned revelations about the paramilitaries. Please take a moment to write a note of concern for the life of Father Javier to Hillary Clinton (Fax 202 647-2283) and President Alvaro Uribe at the Colombian Embassy in D.C. (Fax 202 232-8643).

Daniel Kovalik is a labor and human rights lawyer working in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Santiago de Cali, 8th April 2010

Eight miners were murdered by armed men travelling in two vehicles and a motor bike. The killings occurred in a place known as “Alto de Ovejas”, a rural zone in the municipality of Suárez, department of Cauca, southern Colombia. The place where the massacre occurred is the upper part of the Ovejas river. It can be reached by a one and a half hour journey on foot.

We, the undersigned organizations, have warned of the serious situation caused by the social and armed conflict which the municipalities in the Northwest of Cauca are experiencing, especially in the Municipalities of Suarez, Morales and Buenos Aires. We urgently demand an explanation from the National Government as to why, despite numerous demands for protection for communities in the zone and despite the large numbers of military and police contingents deployed in the areas, the perpetrators of this massacre were completely free to enter the territory, commit the crime and leave again with impunity.

A fact finding mission, composed of the Process of Black Communities, the Association of Indigenous Cabildos from the North of Cauca and the Association for Research and Social Action, NOMADESC, is in the zone in order to make more information available. Unfortunately, no international organization was able to accompany this commission. Because of this, we call upon you to briefly write to the Colombian state, demanding that it takes immediate preventative action and pays attention to the entire population in northwest Cauca. At the same time, we call on the United Nations system to carry out a fact finding visit to the zone as fast as possible. For our part, we will make the information widely available as soon as the work of the fact finding mission has completed its work in the territory.

Background

All of you remember the numerous denunciations which the afrodescendant, peasant farmer and indigenous communities, together with human rights organizations, have made to the national and international community concerning the barbarity which is being imposed on the zone and the dispossession which the ancestral communities living in the territory have been subjected to. Legal proceedings are currently underway against those responsible, in deed and through neglect, for the crimes committed. There is also an investigation underway concerning the responsibility of the multinationals Unión Fenosa, Anglo Gold Ashanti, Smurfit Kappa Cartón de Colombia and Cosigo Resources.  However, despite the enormous efforts which communities have made to ensure preventative and protective measures are implemented, the inhabitants of the zone are still in imminent danger, and the level of impunity is 100%.

ACTIONS TO PROTECT THE TERRITORY

1.- 5th November 2009 Hearing about the Situation of the Afrocolombian, Indigenous and Peasant Communities in the North of Cauca before the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights, Organization of American States in Washington: During the hearing evidence of the serious situation, vulnerability and threats against the communities, miners, peasants and indigenous people was presented. As such, the ongoing violation of the free and informed Consulta Previa (Prior Consultation) was denounced, as was the violation of the application of environmental management plans; Law 70, indigenous legislation and the non-fulfilment of the Constitutional Court’s directives 004 and 005. During the hearing, demands were made that representatives of the Colombian government must undertake immediate preventative and protective actions for the communities in the zone. Result: the government has still not granted the protective mechanisms announced in front of the Commissioners of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in the Organization of American States.^[1]

2.- 10^th December 2009, Public Hearing in Defence of Territory, Culture and Dignity of the Indigenous, Afrodescendant, and Peasant Communities of the Northwest of Cauca: In the Hearing Convened by the Human Rights Commission of the Senate of the Republic, at the petition of the communities and the Association NOMADESC, a mapping of the conflict was carried out. Specific cases of human rights violations were detailed, and the findings of the investigations into who may be responsible for the crimes committed were presented. The communities and human rights organizations warned of the presence of armed actors in the zone, namely the self named Águilas Negras [Black Eagles] who seem to be responsible for a wave of threats which was unleashed in the month of October 2009. Additionally, demands were made to revise the legislation which benefits multinationals present in the zone at the expense of the rights of the communities. Result: proceedings are currently underway to request information about the multinationals which have concessions in the zone [and] armed actors, information about the results of the investigations for crimes which have occurred in the zone, and about high level meetings with the state institutions^[2].

3.- 17th January  2010 Fact Finding Mission of Acción Permanente por la Paz [Permanent Action for Peace]^[3]: A mission with 10 delegates from the United States travelled to the zone and visited the communities of Suarez, including the afrodescendant communities which are dedicated to artisanal mining in the area of La Toma as well as the Indigenous communities of Cerro Tijeras. This mission heard from the affected population. Result: An intervention in front of the national government demanding protection for the communities and territories affected by serious crimes against humanity.

4.- 27^th January  2010 Delegation from the Spanish State, Fact Finding Mission of the human rights situation in Colombia: This mission did not travel to the territory but held meetings with relevant social sectors in the City of Santiago de Cali. In these meetings participants in the mission had the opportunity to hear the testimonies of the social and armed conflict which people in the territory are experiencing, and the vulnerability which the indigenous, afrodescendant and peasant communities who live in the zone are suffering. Result: The delegation from the Spanish State made a public declaration in which they presented their conclusions and proposals concerning the situation. ^[4]

5.- [1^st – 12^th February 2010] Visit of an independent expert from the United Nations on the Question of Minorities, Commissioned by the United Nations Minorities section, GAY McDOUGALL: visited the district of la Toma in the Municipality of Suarez, covering the whole of the territory, and visited the mines where she heard first hand the denunciations of the afrodescendant communities which live in the zone, through the testimonies of leaders of the community, the representatives of the Communitarian Councils and the Process of Black Communities (PCN). Ms McDOUGALL committed to undertake follow up actions about the serious human rights violations and to demand that the Colombian government complies with national and international human rights law. The independent expert carried out this visit in the company of Mr. DANIEL ATCHEBRO, Coordinator in Cali of the Colombian Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, together with other delegates the organization. Result: At the end of her visit, the independent expert issued a declaration and warned that the authorities needed to put a lot of work into regaining the confidence of these people and ordered the Ministry of Defence to protect these communities.^[5]

These latest killings confirm, yet again, that the national government and the protective bodies completely lack the POLITICAL WILL to comply with national and international human rights law. It is extremely worrying that despite these pronouncements from the international community, the judicial processes, the denunciations, Hearings, demands and requests, etc, that the Colombian state still does not guarantee the lives of the inhabitants of the communities.

Because of this, we demand once again that the National Government gives an immediate response to the communities in the vicinity of where human rights are repeatedly violated, especially in relation to the sad deeds which resulted in the murder of 8 miners.

ASOCIACIÓN PARA LA INVESTIGACIÓN Y ACCIÓN SOCIAL NOMADESC [Association for Investigation and Social Action NOMADESC)

PROCESO DE COMUNIDADES NEGRAS PCN [Process of Black Communities, PCN]

ASOCIACION DE CABILDOS  INDIGENAS DEL NORTE DEL CAUCA ACIN [Association of Indigenous Cabildos from North Cauca, ACIN]

CONCEJO COMUNITARIO  LA TOMA [Comunitarian Council of La Toma]

COORPORACION SERVICIOS PROFESIONALES COMUNITARIOS SEMBRAR [Corporation of Professional Comunitarian Services SEMBRAR]

ASOCIACION DE MUJERES MUNICIPALES DE LA BALSA [Association of Women from the Municipality of La Balsa]

ASOCIACIÓN ECATE [Assocation ECATE]

RED DE HERMANDAD Y SOLIDARIDAD CON COLOMBIA REDHER [Fraternal and Solidarity Network with Colombia, REHER ]

CAMPAÑA PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR [Campaign Never to Forget]

RECOMMENDED ACTION/ ACCIÓN SOLICITADA

Favor dirigir comunicaciones a / Please send letters to:

Send messages demanding that the Colombian state authorities:

a) ensure the well-being of the investigation commission currently visiting the scene of the murders at “Alto de Ovejas” in the municipality of Suárez and

b) take immediate preventative action to protect the entire population in northwest Cauca.

ALVARO URIBE VELEZ
Presidente de la República
Carrera 8 No. 7 -26 Palacio de Nariño Bogotá
Fax. 5662071

FRANCISCO SANTOS
Vicepresidente de la República
Carrera 8 No.7-57 Bogotá D.C.
fsantos@presidencia.gov.co

General FREDY PADILLA
Ministro de la Defensa (E)
Avenida El dorado con carrera 52 CAN Bogotá D.C.
siden@mindefensa.gov.co
infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co
mdn@cable.net.co

FABIO VALENCIA COSSIO
Ministro del Interior y de Justicia
Avenida El dorado con carrera 52 CAN Bogotá D.C.
Fax. 2221874
ministro@minjusticia.gov.co

GUILLERMO MENDOZA DIAGO
Fiscal General de la Nación
Diagonal 22B No. 52-01 Bogotá D.C.
Fax. 570 20 00
contacto@fiscalia.gov.co
denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co

WOLMAR ANTONIO PEREZ ORTIZ
Defensor del Pueblo
Calle 55 No. 10 – 32 Bogotá D.C.
Fax. 640 04 91
defensoria@defensoria.org.co
secretaria_privada@hotmail.com

ALEJANDRO ORDÓÑEZ
Procurador General de la Nación
Cra. 5 No.15 – 80F Bogotá D.C.

anticorrupción@presidencia.gov.co
reygon@procuraduría.gov.co

Please send copies of your letters to:

ASOCIACION NOMADESC
Accionjuridica.nomadesc@gmail.com
CAMPAÑA PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR
dhprohibidolvidar@yahoo.com

PROCESO DE COMUNIDADES NEGRAS
pcnkol.bogota@renacientes.net

Colombia Solidarity Campaign adds:

1. Send messages to your local Colombian Embassy, in the UK email: elondres@cancilleria.gov.co and mail@colombianembassy.co.uk

2. More information:

A short video report showing community opposition to open pit gold extraction at Suarez Las Multinacionales todo lo quieren llevar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC5_htDPJPM&feature=related

And a workers protest in Bogotá Caravana contra las multinacionales y grupos economicos nacionales http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0o-LjkjRik&feature=related

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Español:

S.O.S. MASACRE ANUNCIADA EN ZONA MINERA DEL MUNICIPIO DE EN SUAREZ CAUCA

Santiago de Cali, 8 de Abril de 2010

Ocho mineros fueron asesinados por hombres armados que se trasportaban en dos vehículos y una moto,  los hechos ocurrieron en el sitio conocido como “Alto de Ovejas”  zona rural del municipio de Suárez, en el departamento de Cauca, sur de Colombia. El sitio donde ocurrió la masacre es la parte alta del río Ovejas y se llega por carretera en un recorrido de casi una hora y una  hora a pie.

Las Organizaciones abajo firmantes quienes habíamos advertido la grave situación de conflicto social y armado  que se vive en los municipios del Noroccidente del Cauca, en particular en los Municipios de  Suarez, Morales y Buenos Aires, demandamos de manera perentoria explicación del Gobierno Nacional porque pese a las innumerables solicitudes de protección a las comunidades de la zona  y del numeroso contingente militar y de policía que se encuentra en el área, los autores de esta masacre tuvieron toda la libertad de ingresar en el territorio cometer el hecho y salir impunemente.

Una misión de verificación, compuesta por el Proceso de Comunidades Negras PCN, la Asociación de Cabildos Indígenas del Norte del Cauca y la Asociación para la Investigación y Acción social NOMADESC  se encuentra en la zona con el objetivo de ampliar la información. Lastimosamente ningún organismo internacional pudo acompañar esta comisión por lo cual solicitamos a ustedes pronunciarse por escrito a la mayor brevedad exigiendo al estado colombiano acciones inmediatas de prevención y atención para toda la población del noroccidente del Cauca. A su vez solicitamos al sistema de Naciones Unidas, realizar una visita de verificación a la zona lo más pronto posible. Por nuestra parte ampliaremos la información tan pronto se terminen las labores de la comisión de verificación en el territorio.

ANTECEDENTES

Todos ustedes recordaran las diversas denuncias que las comunidades afrodescendientes, Campesinas,  indígenas y organizaciones de derechos humanos hemos  efectuado ante la comunidad nacional e internacional  acerca de la barbarie impuesta en la zona y del despojo al que han sometido a las comunidades que ancestralmente habitan el territorio.   En la actualidad se siguen procesos jurídicos en contra de los responsables por acción y por omisión de los crímenes cometidos así mismo se investiga la responsabilidad de las multinacionales Unión Fenosa, Anglo Gold Ashanti, Smurfit kappa Cartón de Colombia y Cosigo Resources.  Sin embargo pese a los ingentes esfuerzos de las  comunidades para generar mecanismos de prevención y protección la situación de riesgo de los pobladores de la zona es inminente y la impunidad del 100%.

ACCIONES PARA PROTEGER EL TERRITORIO

1.- Noviembre 5 de 2010 Audiencia Situación de las Comunidades Afrocolombianas Indígenas y Campesinas del Norte del Cauca en la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos de la OEA en Washitong: Durante la audiencia se presentaron pruebas de la grave situación, vulnerabilidad y amenaza contra las comunidades mineras, campesinas e indígenas. Así mismo se denuncio la permanente violación a  la Consulta Previa, libre e informada;   la aplicación de los planes de manejo ambiental;   la  ley 70, legislación indígena y los incumplimientos a las directivas 004 y 005 de la Corte Constitucional. En dicha audiencia se solicito a los representantes del  Gobierno Colombiano  emprender acciones inmediatas de prevención y protección a las comunidades de la zona. Resultado: El gobierno a un no ha otorgado los mecanismos de protección anunciados ante los Comisionados de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos humanos de la OEA.  ^[6]

2.- Diciembre 10 de 2010  Audiencia Pública por la Defensa del Territorio, la Cultura y la Dignidad de las Comunidades Indígenas, Afrodescendientes y Campesinas del Noroccidente del Cauca: En la Audiencia Convocada por la Comisión de derechos Humanos del Senado de la República a Petición de las comunidades  y de la Asociación NOMADESC, se efectuó una radiografía del conflicto, se detallaron los casos de violación a los derechos humanos y se presentaron las investigaciones sobre los posibles responsables de los crímenes cometidos. Las comunidades y organizaciones de derechos humanos advirtieron la presencia de actores armados en la zona un grupo autodenominado Águilas Negras al parecer responsable de la ola de amenazas que se desato desde el mes de Octubre de 2010. Adicionalmente se solicito revisar la legislación que beneficia a las multinacionales que hacen presencia en esta zona,  en contra vía de los derechos de las comunidades.  Resultado: Se encuentra en trámite la solicitud de información sobre las multinacionales que tienen concesiones en la zona actores armados, información sobre los resultados de las investigaciones por los crímenes que han ocurrido en la zona y reuniones de alto nivel con las instituciones del Estado.  ^[7]

3.-  Enero 17 de 2010 Misión de Verificación de  Acción Permanente por la Paz^[8]: Una misión con 10 delegados de los Estados Unidos viajo a la zona y visito a las comunidades de Suarez, entre ellos las comunidades Afrodescendientes que se dedican a la minería artesanal  en el corregimiento de La Toma y comunidades indígenas de Cerro Tijeras. Esta misión escucho a la población afectada. Resultado: Incidencia ante gobierno nacional para que proteja las comunidades y el territorio afectado por graves crímenes de lesa humanidad.

4.- Enero 27 de 2010 Delegación del Estado Español Misión de Verificación de la situación de derechos humanos en Colombia: Esta misión no viajo hasta el territorio pero en sus reuniones con los sectores sociales en la Ciudad de Santiago de Cali tuvo la oportunidad de conocer los testimonios del conflicto social y armado que se vive en el territorio, la vulnerabilidad en la que se encuentran las comunidades indígenas, afrodescendientes y campesinas que habitan la zona. Resultado: La delegación del Estado Español efectuó un pronunciamiento público en donde presentan sus conclusiones y propuestas frente a la situación. ^[9]

5.- Visita de la Experta Independiente de Naciones Unidas Sobre Cuestiones de Minorías  comisionada para Minorías de Naciones Unidas GAY MACDOUGALL: Visto el Corregimiento la Toma del Municipio de Suarez, recorrió todo el territorio visito las minas y escucho las denuncias directas de las comunidades afro descendientes que habitan la zona de los líderes de la comunidad,  los representantes de los  Concejos Comunitarios y del Proceso de Comunidades Negras PCN y  se comprometió a efectuar acciones de seguimiento sobre la grave situación de Violación de derechos Humanos  y demandar del gobierno colombiano cumplimiento a las normas nacionales e internacionales de respeto de los derechos humanos. La Experta independiente efectuó la visita  en Compañía del Sr. DANIEL ATCHEBRO, Coordinador en Cali de la Oficina en Colombia del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos y otros delegados de la Organización. Resultado: Al término de su visita la experta independiente emitió una declaración y  advirtió que las autoridades tienen mucho por hacer para recuperar la confianza de estas personas e instó al Ministro de Defensa para que proteja a estas comunidades.^[10]

Queda una vez más comprobado que no existe VOLUNTAD POLITICA  del Gobierno nacional y de los organismos de protección para cumplir con las normas nacionales e internacionales de respeto a los derechos humanos. Es absolutamente preocupante que pese a los pronunciamientos de la comunidad internacional, las judicializaciones, denuncias, Audiencias, demandas, solicitudes etc.,   el Estado colombiano no haya brindado garantías para la vida de las comunidades.

Por lo anterior demandamos una vez más del Gobierno Nacional  respuestas inmediatas  a las comunidades acerca de  la reiterada violación a los derechos humanos en particular sobre los lamentables hechos en los que perdieron la vida 8 mineros.

^[2] Further information can be found at: http://www.prensarural.org/spip/spip.php?article3544, ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKhdh_-Lxzs

^[3] For more information see: http://www.nuestraamerica.info/leer.hlvs/1283

^[4] The full report can be found here: http://www.pazcondignidad.org/spip.php?article346

^[5] The report can be found here: http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=9821&LangID=e

^[6] Escuchar audiencia http://www.oas.org/es/

^[7] Amplíe información en:   http://www.prensarural.org/spip/spip.php?article3544,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKhdh_-Lxzs

^[8] Más información   http://www.nuestraamerica.info/leer.hlvs/1283

^[9] Ver informe completo  http://www.pazcondignidad.org/spip.php?article346

^[10] Ver informe www2.ohchr.org/english/…/expert/…/Colombia_Statement_12022010_sp.doc

ALLIANCE FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE ANNOUNCES:

Eyewitness Investigation–Is the US Funding a War on Colombian Farmers?

August 1 through 11, 2010

Our Hosts:

• FENSUAGRO, Colombia’s largest labor federation of farmers and farm workers
• Traspaso los Muros, an organization of persons both inside and outside Colombian jails advocating for the rights of political prisoners.

Cost:

$1,400, not including international air fare. Some scholarships may be available. Costs include…

• Several in-country trips to collect testimonies in rural, indigenous and Afro Colombian communities;
• All food and lodging;
• Translation services and in-country guides;
• Educational material and other delegation related expenses.

Featuring:

• Visits to rural, indigenous and Afro Colombian communities (sleeping bags will be required for some overnight visits);
• Meetings with leaders and members of FENSUAGRO, as well as miners’ and oil workers’ unions;
• Testimonies and analysis of how foreign companies are threatening sustainable agriculture;
• Interviews with journalists and elected officials from the political opposition;
• Presentations from student activists;
• Visits with political prisoners and their families.

This will be a working delegation, producing a comprehensive report on conditions faced by Colombian farmers and how these are affected by US policies. We will collect testimonies and investigate how rural, indigenous and Afro Colombian lands are being cleared for the benefit of foreign corporate access to natural resources. FENSUAGRO is the union most targeted by political violence and other forms of repression. Our goal will be to build internationalist support for Colombian farmers and FENSUAGRO members by exposing dangers they face and advocating for a US policy that strives for peace and justice rather than war. This does not mean, though, that the delegation will be all work and no play! There will be ample opportunity to relax, enjoy Colombian culture and make new friends in our shared struggle to build a new and better world!

For more information: email- james@afgj.org

Phone- 520-243-0381

Download leaflet

TRASPASA LOS MUROS: CAMPAÑA PERMANENTE DE SOLIDARIDAD CON LAS DETENIDAS Y LOS DETENIDOS POLÍTICOS

ACCIÓN URGENTE

LILIANY PATRICIA OBANDO VILLOTA, PRISIONERA POLÍTICA DE CONCIENCIA, PADECE AMENAZA DE TRASLADO POR DENUNCIAR ABUSOS COMETIDOS POR GUARDIANAS DE LA RECLUSIÓN DE MUJERES EL BUEN PASTOR DE BOGOTÁ – COLOMBIA.

La Campaña Traspasa Los Muros denuncia a la Comunidad Nacional e Internacional que el INPEC usa el traslado como represalia contra los prisioneros políticos en Colombia, cuando denuncian violaciones o amenazas de sus derechos fundamentales.

Respaldamos las peticiones de la Prisionera Política LILIANY PATRICIA OBANDO VILLOTA y exigimos al Estado Colombiano garantizar sus derechos fundamentales, especialmente su derecho a la cercanía familiar, y en consecuencia ABSTENERSE DE TRASLADARLA a otro sitio de reclusión, puesto que su núcleo familiar reside en la ciudad de Bogotá, lugar donde también se adelanta el proceso penal en su contra, dentro del cual tiene la calidad de SINDICADA, y se encuentra en detención preventiva.

Solicitamos a las Comunidad Nacional e Internacional emitir sus pronunciamientos respaldando la Acción Urgente que ha presentado la Prisionera Política, enviando sus comunicaciones a las direcciones abajo relacionadas.

Para su mayor conocimiento REENVIEAMOS el texto completo de la acción urgente:

***

Reclusión de Mujeres de Bogota, Colombia

Marzo 8 de 2010

Doctor:
FABIO VALENCIA COSSIO

Ministro de Justicia de Colombia

E. S. D.

Coronel (r):

CARLOS ALBERTO BARRAGÁN GALINDO

Director General del INPEC

E.   S.  D.

Doctora:

ANA SOFÍA HIDALGO

Directora Reclusión de Mujeres de Bogota

E.  S.  D.

Doctor:

WOLMAR PEREZ ORTIZ

Defensor Nacional del Pueblo

E.  S.  D.

Doctor:

RÓMULO MURILLO

Procuraduría General de La Nación

E.       S.       D.

Señores:

ORGANISMOS NACIONALES E INTERNACIONALES

DEFENSORES DE DERECHOS HUMANOS

E.       S.       D.

Referencia: ACCIÓN URGENTE

Cordial saludo.

LILIANY PATRICIA OBANDO VILLOTA, identificada con cédula de ciudadanía No. 30.745.041, Prisionera Política de Conciencia en condición de SINDICADA, actualmente privada de la libertad en el patio 6 de la Reclusión de Mujeres de Bogotá “El Buen Pastor”, con TD 065593, me dirijo a sus despachos para solicitar su ACCIÓN URGENTE, en razón a la persecución que vengo padeciendo por parte de guardianas del INPEC que podrían derivar en un TRASLADO COMO RETALIACIÓN por las denuncias que he interpuesto contra las guardianas DIANA SALINAS, ESPERANZA GAONA, MÓNICA VALVUENA, LEIDY PAOLA ROMERO, ZOILA PEÑALOSA, DAYANA CRISTINA AGUILAR Y MARIA DEL CARMEN MARTÍNEZ LEIVA; temo ser alejada arbitrariamente de mi núcleo familiar, por lo que solicito su intervención inmediata para prevenir violaciones a mis derechos humanos y a los derechos fundamentales de mis hijos menores de edad.

ANTECEDENTES

Soy madre cabeza de familia de los menores de edad CAMILO ERNESTO INSUASTY OBANDO, de 16 años de edad, y LAURA VELASQUEZ OBANDO, de 6 años de edad, quienes siempre han dependido totalmente de mí y han estado bajo mi cuidado; he sido una mujer responsable y trabajadora y me he esforzado por brindarle a mis hijos todo lo que han necesitado, pero en razón a mi detención mis hijos se encuentran a cargo de mi madre de avanzada edad.

Soy Licenciada en Lenguas Modernas de la Universidad de Nariño y Socióloga de la Universidad Nacional, en el momento de mi detención estaba cursando la maestría en “Estudios Políticos y Relaciones Internacionales” en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Así mismo, me desempeñaba como defensora de derechos humanos en La Federación Nacional Sindical Unitaria Agropecuaria (FENSUAGRO).

Estoy siendo judicializada arbitrariamente por los delitos de rebelión y administración de recursos, en razón al trabajo que desarrollaba en defensa de los derechos de los trabajadores del agro, por ello me considero Prisionera Política de Conciencia victima de un montaje judicial.

Fui detenida por órdenes de la Fiscalía General de la Nación el 8 de agosto de 2008, y actualmente ostento la condición de SINDICADA dentro del proceso penal adelantado por el Juez Noveno Penal del Circuito Especializado de Bogotá, OSCAR GUSTAVO JAIMES VILLAMIZAR.

Durante mi detención se me ha negado la casa por cárcel, derecho constitucional al que tengo como madre cabeza de familia.

HECHOS

1. Desde el mes de abril del año 2009 a la fecha, he denunciado el abuso de autoridad que han cometido guardianas en el patio 6 de la Reclusión de Mujeres el Buen Pastor, contra las prisioneras políticas que allí habitamos, tales como requisas degradantes en horas nocturnas, comportamiento hostil, maltrato verbal y psicológico, amenazas verbales de traslado, irrespeto a la dignidad humana, obstrucción de visitas de abogados, engaños con fines de sometimiento a interrogatorios ilegales, decomiso arbitrario de artículos autorizados, entre otros. (Ver denuncias anexas con fecha abril 18 de 2009, septiembre 2 de 2009, septiembre 9 de 2009, diciembre 2 de 2009 y diciembre 30 de 2009).
2. Además de las denuncias escritas, en diferentes oportunidades he denunciado de manera verbal los atropellos de la guardia, especialmente los cometidos a partir del mes de septiembre del año pasado, con la finalidad que se cese el maltrato dado a las prisioneras, especialmente el maltrato al que me han sometido, puesto que he tenido que soportar injurias y señalamientos por parte de la guardia, para lo cual han utilizado información de reserva de mi proceso, ejemplo de ello es el falso y constante señalamiento publico que la dragoneante DIANA SALINAS ha hecho tildándome de ser la amante del abatido miembro de las FARC alias Raúl Reyes, hecho totalmente falso que además viola el debido proceso y la presunción de inocencia.
3. Por mis constantes reclamos se me ha excluido de participar en actividades de derechos humanos que se han realizado en la reclusión y se ha obstaculizado la visita de mis abogados y defensores de derechos humanos que hacen seguimiento a mi condición de reclusión, a quienes les han informado falsamente que yo me opongo a recibir sus visitas.
4. El 30 de diciembre de 2009, las prisioneras políticas fuimos objeto de una requisa arbitraria protagonizada por las funcionarias LEIDY PAOLA ROMERO, ZOILA PEÑALOSA, DAYANA CRISTINA AGUILAR y la teniente MARÍA DEL CARMEN MARTINEZ LEIVA, quien ese día ejercía de  comandante de vigilancia; en desarrollo de dicha requisa fui maltratada físicamente y me fue decomisado un discman que estaba autorizado por las autoridades competentes del establecimiento; ante mis reclamos la guardia optó por presentar una falsa denuncia contra mi, alegando que yo había agredido a las funcionarias y que portaba un mp3, elemento no autorizado en la reclusión. Prueba de la falsa denuncia es que existen testigos que observaron la agresión de la guardia y que funcionarios de policía judicial me devolvieron el discman en el mes de febrero porque si contaba con la debida autorización.
5. Recientemente tuve conocimiento que la teniente MARÍA DEL CARMEN MARTÍNEZ LEIVA ha solicitado mi traslado a otro sitio de reclusión, aprovechando la falsa denuncia que han presentado las guardianas agresoras; esto constituye una represalia en mi contra que amenaza la cercanía familiar y por ende mis derechos fundamentales y los de mis hijos menores de edad, así como mi condición de sindicada.

CONTEXTO

Estos hechos denunciados, especialmente los ocurridos en el mes de diciembre, han desatado la animadversión de las guardias mencionadas hacia mí, quienes mantienen una actitud de venganza por las quejas formales escritas y verbales que he presentado ante sus jefes inmediatos por sus excesos, abusos y trasgresión de su propio reglamento en lo referido a la “relación y trato con las internas” y extralimitación en el ejercicio de sus funciones.

Todas las quejas y denuncias que he presentado las he fundamentado en las disposiciones de la Constitución Nacional, los Códigos Penal y de Procedimiento Penal, el Código Penitenciario y Carcelario (ley 65 de 1993), el Decreto 407 de 1994, las Reglas Mínimas para el Tratamiento de los Reclusos y otras Reglas Internacionales en lo que respecta al trato digno y respetuoso de nuestros derechos humanos como personas privadas de la libertad.

Durante todo el tiempo que he estado privada de la libertad he mantenido una conducta ejemplar, aportando a la convivencia pacifica en el patio 6 donde me encuentro, donde ninguna de mis compañeras de reclusión tiene ni ha presentado queja alguna por mi comportamiento.

Igualmente, en ocho (8) ocasiones he solicitado prisión domiciliaria en mi condición de madre cabeza de hogar, mis hijos menores de edad dependen de mí, sin embargo, las peticiones han sido negadas, y no bastando esta situación, se propone un traslado que desestabilizaría a todo mi núcleo familiar, me alejaría de mis hijos y de mi madre de avanzada edad, y obviamente se constituiría un castigo adicional al que ya padezco con el solo encierro y las limitaciones de mis derechos.

Recuerdo que la responsabilidad primaria de protección de los derechos humanos recae de acuerdo con los principios constitucionales y el articulado de los tratados y Convenios Internacionales sobre el Estado colombiano, al ser éste el sujeto responsable de velar por el cumplimiento de lo consagrado en la Constitución Nacional y por ser el que adquiere los compromisos en materia de derechos humanos y de derecho internacional humanitario ante la comunidad internacional. Por tal razón, su mayor deber jurídico es el de prevenir las violaciones frente a estos derechos y tomar las medidas necesarias para investigar, identificar, juzgar y sancionar a los responsables por su acción u omisión, o tomar las medidas correctivas de carácter administrativo o político que impida que estos crímenes se sigan perpetrando.

PETICIONES

1. Que el Ministerio de Justicia, la Dirección General del INPEC y la Dirección de la Reclusión de Mujeres de Bogota, intervengan urgentemente para que cese el comportamiento de persecución y agresión que he padecido y se me ofrezcan todas las garantías de respeto a mis derechos fundamentales, en consecuencia, NO SE ME TRASLADE DE ESTABLECIMIENTO DE RECLUSIÓN, toda vez que mi núcleo familiar se encuentra en la ciudad de Bogotá y la corte constitucional ha determinado que las y los reclusos deben estar en establecimientos donde se encuentre su núcleo familiar y su proceso, puesto que aún me encuentro en calidad de sindicada y mi proceso lo adelantada un Juez de Bogotá.
2. Que la Procuraduría General de la Nación y la Defensoría del Pueblo ejerzan una vigilancia especial a las denuncias que he presentado y a las investigaciones que se han adelantado contra las funcionarias del INPEC DIANA SALINAS, ESPERANZA GAONA, MÓNICA VALVUENA, LEIDY PAOLA ROMERO, ZOILA PEÑALOSA, DAYANA CRISTINA AGUILAR Y MARIA DEL CARMEN MARTÍNEZ LEIVA, para que se tomen las medidas a que hubiere lugar por su conducta.
3. Que se ejerza una vigilancia permanente para que se garantice que producto de esta denuncia, no se cometerán retaliaciones en mi contra.
4. Que los organismos nacionales e internacionales defensores de derechos humanos, escriban sus cartas de apoyo a esta acción urgente a las siguientes direcciones:

Director Programa Presidencial de DDHH y DIH

CARLOS FRANCO.

E-mail: cefranco@presidencia.gov.co.

Asesor: Fernando Ibarra.

Tel.: +57.1.5659797 o 571 5662064

E-mail: fibarra@presidencia.gov.co

Procurador General de la Nación

ALEJANDRO ORDÓÑEZ MALDONADO

Carrera 5 #. 15-80, Bogotá.

Fax: +57.1.342.97.23; +571.284.79.49. Fax: +57.1.342.97.23;

E-mail: cap@procuraduria.gov.co, quejas@procuraduria.gov.co; y webmaster@procuraduria.gov.co

Defensor Nacional del Pueblo

VOLMAR ANTONIO PÉREZ ORTIZ

Calle 55 # 10-32, Bogotá.

Fax: + 57.1.640.04.91

E-mail: secretaria_privada@hotmail.com; agenda@agenda.gov.co

Director Nacional del INPEC

CARLOS ALBERTO BARRAGÁN GALINDO

Calle 26 No. 27-48, Bogotá.

PBX (57) 2347474 / 2347262

E- mail: reclamos@inpec.gov.co ; Webmaster@inpec.gov.co

Directora Reclusión de Mujeres El Buen Pastor

ANA SOFIA HIDALGO ALVARADO

Cra 47. No. 84 – 25 Barrio Entre Ríos, Bogotá
Teléfono: 6307724 / 6301649 / 6302037 / 2400676 / 6304946
E-mail: rmbogota@inpec.gov.co

Atentamente,

LILIANY PATRICIA OBANDO VILLOTA

C.C 30.745.041 DE PASTO

TD. 065593

PATIO 6 RM de Bogotá

Con copia:

• Dra. Ivonne Lagos Díaz, coordinadora grupo de DDHH INPEC
• Dra. Diana Novoa Comisión de DDHH del Senado de la República
• Oficina del Alto comisionado de Naciones Unidas Para los DDHH
• Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos
• Fundación Lazos de Dignidad
• Campaña Permanente de Solidaridad con las y los Detenidos Políticos (Traspasa Los Muros).
• Fundación Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Políticos

LA LUCHA SOCIAL NO ES UN DELITO, ES UN PASO HACIA LA LIBERTAD…

¡¡¡PRES@S POLITÍC@S A LA CALLE!!!

Visita: libertadpresxspoliticxs.jimdo.com

The premiere screening took place on March 6, outside the Colombian embassy in Canberra, Australia. This coincided with a national day of protest against state terror in Colombia.

Uribe and his supporters say their continuing repression of Colombian people is part of the “war on terror”. Insurgency of the 21st century presents an alternative view.

Members of the Communist Party of Australia, the Socialist Alliance, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, the Search Foundation and several others gathered at the screening to protest against the continual violation of human rights in Colombia, and demand freedom of speech and an end the criminalisation of international solidarity.

Speakers reflected on the more than 7000 political prisoners, the 4 million internally displaced people and the assassination of more than 2000 trade union leaders in the last 12 years, all carried out by Colombian state security services and paramilitary forces with connections to the government.

Footage of the action will be soon available

See action report in the media:

English media:

Green Left Weekly . The film Uribe doesn’t want you to see

Chris Wite blog (Canberra): Columbian documentary Canberra

IndyMedia (Australia). The Film Uribe doesn´t want you to see screened on the walls of the Colombia Embassy in Canberra

Spanish language media:

Rebelión Se proyecta un documental sobre las FARC frente a la embajada colombiana en Canberra

KaosenlaRed “FARC-EP: La insurgencia del siglo XXI”, proyectado frente a la embajada colombiana en Canberra, Australia

La Haine: “FARC-EP: La insurgencia del siglo XXI” se proyecta frente a la embajada colombiana en Australia

Stop criminalisation of International Solidarity!

Stop State Terror in Colombia!

Saturday, March 6^th, 7:30pm

Garema Place, ACT Canberra

A documentary on the current struggles of the Colombian people will be screened, introduced by Colombia solidarity activists. Followed by the controversial documentary that Uribe does not want you to see.

At the time Colombian President Alvaro Uribe agrees to accept seven new US military bases and the US government reactivate its Fourth fleet, Colombian peasants, workers, indigenous, women and children continue to be displaced or even executed.

Internationally, all of those who denounce the criminal regime of Uribe, demand social justice or show any kind of solidarity with the Colombian people and workers, are immediately accused of supporting terrorism. In the US, Australia and other countries, activists, journalists and human rights advocates had been harassed or interrogated by the police. The Colombian government, supported by their Ambassadors and supporters around the world, is leading a campaign to suppress websites, ban films from being publicly screened and persecute political activists.

The Colombian people deserve the support of people around the world. International solidarity is not a criminal activity and all efforts to silence voices of dissent attempt against the basic civil liberties.

This night we will come together to:

• Demand justice for the victims of state terror in Colombia
• Denounce all initiatives to criminalise international solidarity
• Defend our civil rights and liberties to express our solidarity

Supported by: Revolutionary Socialist Party (Canberra), Communist Party of Australia (Victoria) and Socialist Alliance

Find the event on Facebook

Part of Uribe’s international campaign to criminalise solidarity, is a violent cultural campaign of deceit, led by the corporate media. Censorship and right-wing propaganda from the Colombian government is aired in main news outlets and targeting also new media such as the internet, You Tube and weblogs. Uribe’s latest event has been via the the Colombian Foreign Ministry to intensify their propaganda war against FARC Marxist guerrillas and what the Uribe government terms the FARC’s “parallel diplomacy.” Colombian Foreign Ministry Jaime Bermúdez, called home 29 Colombian ambassadors (plus 12 other that were connected via video conference) to draft an agenda of combating this “diplomacy” and prevent the screening of a recently released Argentinean production titles “La insurgencia del siglo XXI” (The insurgency of the 21st Century). The documentary that depicts the rebel group as an organization made up of peasants, indigenous, afro-Colombian men and women, their work with the land and hold revolutionary points of view about Colombian society. The screening of the film has been banned, and the Ambassadors and their collaborators have the task of prevent the film of being distributed.  Despites Uribe´s efforts, a number of countries including Argentina, Cuba, Uruguay, Ecuador, Spain, Italy, France, Denmark, Turkey, and possibly others have already seen the film. In Argentina and Cuba the documentary premiered in nationa  Film festivals.

According to the Colombian Foreign Ministry, to screen or watch this video is considered “a statement in defence of crime”. What is dangerous from such declarations are the actions taken by some countries in response to these initiatives. This happens at a time when Uribe has accepted seven US military bases that include the use of air and navy forces, contractors and security forces which threaten not only the Colombian people, but the entire region.

The delegitimization and defamation campaign is also a major component of Uribe´s propaganda war, sometimes with judicial consequences. Colombian intellectuals have been jailed. On August 2008, film-maker and human rights defender Liliany Obando (who toured Australia in two occasions) was detained, being the first victim of Uribe´s so-called “FARC-politica” in response to ongoing political scandals in Colombia linking Uribe with paramilitary death squads, drug trafficking, and other damning activities. Liliany is yet to be tried in court and she remains in a high security prison to date. On May 2009, Professor Miguel Ángel Beltrán was illegally extradited from México to Colombia, accused of being a “FARC-Intellectual” for his criticism of the Colombian government. Beltrán  was jailed with no trial and has now been reported as disappeared. These cases add to the over 7,500 political prisoners languishing in Colombian prisons.

Outside Colombia, several human rights advocates and solidarity activists had also been interrogated or harassed. In Spain on July 2008, pacifist activist María Remedios García Albert was temporarily jailed for alleged links to the rebel organization. At the time, Gen. Oscar Naranjo, chief of the Colombian Police declared that “that capture was the first in a series of detentions that will be carried out in Europe, of people linked to the FARC”; following that first detention, houses of Colombian activists in Switzerland were raided. To date, the Colombian Government have failed in providing evidence of such connections. During 2008 and 2009, solidarity activists in Chile, México and Peru were harassed with their pictures constantly appearing in the national media without any incriminatory evidence. On January this year, American writer and Colombia solidarity activist James Jordan was escorted out of a plane while returning home from Haiti. US Homeland Security officials interrogated him about solidarity work with Colombia. On February this year, an Australian activist was also  interrogated by the Australian Federal Police on request of the Colombian National Police. This is not the first time that an Australian activist has been interrogated for solidarity work with Colombia as it has been the main focus for the interrogators.

This Uribe campaign, carried out on a global scale, is unprecedented for the current “post-military junta period” in Latin America as it resembles  ‘Operation Condor’ throughout the 1970s and 1980s which involved the clandestine work of US sponsored state-terror carried out by military and secret services of several Southern Cone regimes. In the 1970s and 1980s the pretext of the Cold War was used to carry out repressive and horrific crimes against humanity that involved the deportation, incarceration, torture, “disappearance,” and murder of both common people and revolutionaries for their alleged support of  “terrorism.” Today, in the context of an asymmetrical global US ”War on Terror” where there is “no clear” enemy, it has become very easy for some police and intelligence agencies to declare anyone a “criminal” or a “terrorist.” Without evidence and with only suspicion, this intelligence work has been carried out by local security and police forces and violates the basic civil liberties of freedom of speech and freedom of organisation. Put simply, it threatens the rights of people to demand much needed social justice.

March 6 marks the day to protest against State Terror in Colombia, called by the Movement of Victims of State Crimes (Colombia). On the first week of March, there would be a number of different activities campaigning against extrajudicial executions of young people (who are killed, dressed up and presented as guerrilla fighters, in an attempt of showing with “numbers” the success of Uribe′s counter-insurgent efforts) , and against the criminalisation of international solidarity and critical thinking.

© Peace & Justice for Colombia (copy left)

This article can be posted in other sites, but please quote the reference

PEACE AND JUSTICE STATEMENT

4 February 2010

Take Action: Oppose to the attempts to criminalise International Solidarity

Peace and Justice for Colombia (PJFC) is deeply concerned about the recent questioning and interrogations of activists in Australia that for years have been working in solidarity with Colombia.

On 3 February 2010, a member of our organisation, Mr. Alejandro Rodriguez, was interviewed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in an attempt to obtain information on individuals, the Agricultural Workers Union of Colombia (FENSUAGRO) and about the activities of our organisation.

Peace and Justice for Colombia is a solidarity organisation that promotes the respect of human rights of all Colombians, and in doing so we have been denouncing the violations of labour and human rights in that country under the regimen of Alvaro Uribe.

It is very shameful that the AFP is aiding Uribe’s regime that has been engaged in the systematic persecution of human rights defenders, journalists, labour leaders and the opposition. Still worse, there is evidence that Uribe’s regime has been involved in drug trade and paramilitarism.

Peace and Justice for Colombia believes that the actions of the AFP in this particular matter, violates the rights of Mr Rodriguez who for years have been involved in solidarity work with Colombia and with Latin America, but also that the AFP action supports the Uribe regime’s campaign against international solidarity expressed by Australian trade unionists, individuals and political organizations.

PJFC requests that you and your organisation write to the Australian authorities to:

• Protest for the AFP cooperation with the Uribe administration
• Condemn any attempts of Uribe to criminalise international solidarity with Colombia.
• Demand that the Australian Government suspends its involvement with the Uribe regime until such time human and trade union rights are protected in Colombia.

Post or fax your messages and letters to:

Hon Brendan O’Connor MP
Minister for Home Affairs
PO Box 6022, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel:  (02) 6277 7290 or
Fax: (02) 6273 7098

Tony Negus APM
Commissioner of the AFP
PO Box 401
Canberra City ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6223 3000

Copy your letters to:

Peace & Justice for Colombia,
Email: pjfcolombia@gmail.com

Yours in solidarity,

Peace & Justice for Colombia, PJFC-Australia
www.colombiasolidarity.net
www.freeliliany.net

Mr Brendan O’Connor MHR
Minister for Home Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Mr. O´Connor,

Minister for Home Affairs,

We are writing to protest against the interrogation of Mr. Alejandro Rodriguez by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on February 3^rd. Mr. Rodriguez is a member of our organisation, Peace and Justice for Colombia, and he is a well known advocate for workers´ rights and solidarity.

It is of our knowledge that during the interrogation Mr. Rodriguez was asked about individuals, the work of Peace & Justice for Colombia and about the Agricultural Workers Unions Federation of Colombia (FENSUAGRO). FENSUAGRO is a legitimate Colombian organisation that is formed by several affiliated unions, peasants and farmers´ organisations, with a total of 80,000 members nation-wide, with presence in 22 out of the 32 federated entities of the Colombian State. In a country where land distribution continues to be a major motive of inequality and injustice, FENSUAGRO is also the union that has been more brutally targeted by the Colombian state, its official forces and the paramilitaries. According to the International Trade Union Confederation, 49 union leaders were killed in 2008 alone, and 838 between 2000 and 2008; 95 per cent of the cases are reported as ’unsolved ’, many of these crimes have been committed against FENSUAGRO organizers and activists. We consider it to be a trust-worthy union.

It has been well documented that key members of the Colombian government have been historically linked to leading drug trafficking organisations and far right extremist groups. In 1991, the US Defense Intelligence Agency listed Uribe among ‘important Colombian narco-traffickers’ as well as a ‘close personal friend’ of Pablo Escobar Gaviria. Uribe’s Colombia is also responsible for arguably the largest internally displaced population in the world; 4 million Colombians are internally displaced rivalling only the Sudan.

We are also aware that the government of Alvaro Uribe has launched a campaign to censor and delegitimize solidarity initiatives internationally. We can only consider this interrogation as part of the mentioned campaign and it is completely disgraceful that the AFP is being used for the systematic persecution of human rights defenders, journalists, labour leaders and any other organisation or individuals who raises their voices in support of the Colombian people in their demands of democracy and social justice, and denounce the atrocities committed by Uribe´s government. Mr. Rodriguez has the support of professionals, trade unionists, academics and human rights organisations in Australia and internationally. For his work and commitment to the people of Colombia and Latin America, he too deserves the support of the Australian government.

• Peace & Justice for Colombia is an Australia-based solidarity organization that aims to build solidarity amongst Australians with the Colombian people and workers, and all the work we do is public and open.
• Peace & Justice for Colombia strongly condemns any attempt by the AFP, ASIO or any other intelligence agencies in Australia to persecute, detain or harass Mr. Rodriguez or any other solidarity activists. We consider this is a serious abuse of power under the Australian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2005.
• We protest against the AFP cooperation with the Uribe administration.
• We condemn any attempts of Uribe to criminalise international solidarity with Colombia.
• We demand that the Australian Government suspends its involvement with the Uribe regime while human and labour rights are not respected in that country.

Yours sincerely,

Peace and Justice for Colombia