By Garry Leech, Colombia Journal
Many analysts and sectors of the mainstream media have suggested that the apparent ineffectiveness of the U.S. government to resolve the crisis in Honduras is evidence that the influence wielded by the region’s superpower is waning. They argue that the assertiveness of Brazil in its efforts to have Honduras’ coup regime step down and re-instate the country’s democratically elected president Manuel Zelaya illustrates how the balance of power in the region has shifted. But such conclusions might well be premature. After all, given the stubbornness of the coup regime headed by Roberto Micheletti, it could be argued that it is the United States, and by extension its ally Colombia, that are getting their way in Honduras and not Brazil and its leftist allies Venezuela and Bolivia. Continue reading »
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From the Permanent Campaign in Solidarity with Political Prisoners, “Traspasa los Muros”
libertadpresxspoliticxs.jimdo.com
The Permanent Campaign in Solidarity with the Political Detainees transcribes and resends the following:
PUBLIC DENUNCIATION
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR OF COLOMBIA THREATENS THE HUMAN RIGHTS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WOMEN PRISONERS OF THE TRAMACUA PENITENTIARY OF VALLEDUPAR-COLOMBIA
From The Women Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War of the High Security Penitentiary of Valledupar-La Tramacua: Before the national and international community we denounce and reject the authoritarianism and abuse of power of the Colombian Senior Minister of the Interior, FABIO VALENCIA COSSIO, as a result of the following deeds: Continue reading »
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TO ALL DEFENDERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE LOVING PEOPLE
Peace and Justice for Colombia (PJFC) calls on you to protest recent actions by Australian and Colombian police agencies that violated the human rights and prisoner conventions of labour activist and political prisoner, Liliany Obando. We denounce the attempts by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to obtain information on organizations and individuals that Ms Obando met while touring Australia. This is an attempt to internationalize the so-called FARC-Politics and criminalize international solidarity.
On 2nd September 2009, prison guards told Liliany Obando that social services wanted to interview her. Once at the interview room she was informed the interview would be with personnel from the Colombian General Prosecutor’s office. In the room she found a woman and two men, one of whom appeared to be a foreigner, waiting. Continue reading »
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Hon Brendan O’Connor MP
Minister for Home Affairs
PO Box 6022, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2601
Fax: (02) 6273 7098
Cc: Tony Negus APM
Commissioner of the AFP
PO Box 401
Canberra City ACT 2601
Dear Minister O’Connor,
We are writing to protest recent actions by Australian Federal Police (AFP) violating international prisoners’ rights conventions and the human rights of labour activist and political prisoner Liliany Obando in Colombia. Continue reading »
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Australian Federal Police harass Colombian political prisoner
On September 2, 2009, Liliany Obando was visited by David Nelson of the Australian Federal Police (AFP),together with Oscar Leonel Ochoa and Diana Marlene Plaza, both employees of Colombian National Intelligence Agency (DAS). Obando was arrested and jailed on August 8, 2008, charged with two counts of rebellion and managing funds for a terrorist organization. Continue reading »
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To Friends and Supporters of Peace and Justice for Colombia
We regret that it has become necessary to postpone the proposed tour and public meetings of Senator Piedad Cordoba Ruiz scheduled for November 2009.
The Senator has advised us that she must postpone the tour due to the imminent release of prisoners in the conflict in Colombia.
Because of the key role she plays in difficult negotiations with the Uribe Government, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) she is required to be in the country in the coming period.
Senator Cordoba has profusely apologised for any inconvenience and has indicated that we may be able to reschedule for January or February 2010. Peace and Justice for Colombia will advise all supporters as soon as new arrangements are made.
In solidarity,
Peace and Justice For Colombia
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Oct. 5 (Bloomberg) — Colombia Senator Piedad Cordoba and Afghanistan’s Sima Samar, two women promoting peace and human rights in conflict zones, are among the top contenders for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, the International Peace Research Institute in Oslo said.
There are a record 205 nominees for the 10 million-krona ($1.4 million) prize, which women rarely win, set to be announced by the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Oct. 9. U.S. scientists Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak were awarded the Nobel medicine prize today, the first of six prizes to be announced through Oct. 12. Continue reading »
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“In rejection of the persecution against the political opposition
in Colombia through the liberation of the political prisoners and
for the humanitarian exchange”
Justification
The Colombian State has historically and systematically violated Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, through the implementation of strategies and/or policies of war that look for whatever means to put an end to free thinking in our country. From the physical extermination and disappearances forced on the political opposition in the years of the 70s, 80s and 90s to the accusations, persecutions, fabrications of testimony and the incarceration of all persons who raise their voices in protest. Continue reading »
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“En rechazo a la persecución contra opositores políticos en Colombia, por la libertad de las y los prisioneros políticos y por el acuerdo humanitario”
Actividades para el 1 de octubre a nivel mundial
Justificación
El Estado Colombiano ha violado histórica y sistemáticamente los Derechos Humanos y el Derecho Internacional Humanitario, a través de la implementación de estrategias y/o políticas de guerra que buscan por cualquier medio acabar con el libre pensamiento en nuestro país. Del exterminio físico y las desapariciones forzadas contra opositores políticos en los años 7Os, 80s y 90s pasó a los señalamientos, persecuciones, fabricación de pruebas y encarcelamiento de todas las personas que levantan sus voces de protesta. Continue reading »
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