Colext/Macondo
Cantina virtual de los COLombianos en el EXTerior
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* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
Amnesty International Public document
AI Index AMR 23/028/2000
News Service Nr 83
19 May 2000
Colombia
Action not words to keep human rights defenders alive
19 May 1997 -- Human rights activists Elsa Alvarado and Carlos Mario
Calder�n were shot dead in their flat in Bogot� by masked gunmen. 19 May
2000 -- Although four people have been arrested and charged with
involvement in the killing and two prominent paramilitary leaders
identified as having masterminded the crime, none of them has faced
justice yet.
In the past three years alone, more than 25 Colombian human rights
activists have been killed, a similar number have narrowly escaped
murder, and at least 40 have fled the country fearing for their life.
Only two weeks ago, yet another name was added to the list of those who
paid with their life for their commitment to the defense and promotion
of human rights. Activist Jes�s Ramiro Zapata Hoyos was killed in
Segovia, Antioquia, after being abducted by a group of armed men.
"These chilling statistics point to a situation in which human rights
defenders continue to face alarming levels of danger and systematic
intimidation campaigns," Amnesty International said today on the release
of its new report "Colombia, Protection of human rights defenders: One
step forward, three steps back".
"As Colombia�s violent conflict continues to escalate and all sides show
blatant disregard for human rights, those who stand up for such rights
are left defenceless in the face of the frequent attacks they suffer,"
the organization continued.
The report acknowledges that the Colombian authorities have taken some
initial steps to improve the protection of human rights organizations
and their members, including offering such measures as police protection
and bullet-proof jackets to individuals, installing security cameras and
reinforcing the premises of organizations.
However, more incisive action is needed to tackle the ongoing harassment
of human rights defenders at the hands of the armed forces and their
paramilitary allies, as well as of armed opposition groups. Such action
must be part of a comprehensive protection program that reflects the
complexities of the problem.
"So far the authorities have confined themselves to initial measures,
which merely patch up the problem, but do not deal with its root
causes," Amnesty International said.
"What is now needed is for the Colombian authorities to show the
political will to implement a more effective protection strategy and to
put an end to the impunity that shelters those who target human rights
defenders," the organization continued.
"As the case of Elsa and Carlos Mario -- as well as those of a number of
other murdered or �disappeared� human rights workers and campaigners --
clearly shows, insufficient action is taken to identify and bring to
justice those responsible for such cases."
Amnesty International is urging the Colombian authorities to address the
issue of impunity and to undertake a series of measures to better
protect those at the forefront of the struggle to promote and protect
human rights. Such measures include:
- adopting a comprehensive program for the protection of human rights
defenders, in accordance with requests of members of human rights
organizations;
- supporting the legitimacy of the activities of human rights
organizations, and ensuring that all public servants, including the
security forces, abstain from making unsubstantiated public statements
linking human rights activists to the armed opposition, which often
results in them being the target of attacks;
- effectively disbanding, disarming and prosecuting paramilitary groups
operating with the complicity or acquiescence of the security forces;
- ensuring that exhaustive and impartial investigations are carried out
into violations against human rights defenders and that those
responsible are brought to justice;
- suspending from active service armed forces personnel against whom
there is credible evidence of human rights violations;
- purging the armed forces of anyone found responsible for human rights
violations;
- ensuring full implementation of international recommendations and
resolution regarding human rights defenders by the United Nations and
Inter-American human rights system.
"At a time when the U.N. Commission on Human Rights has recognised the
importance of protecting those engaged in human rights work by creating
a Special Representative for human rights defenders, it is high time for
the Colombian authorities to put into practice their reiterated pledges
to make human rights a priority on their agenda," Amnesty International
said.
"Action not words is what is needed to keep Colombian human rights
defenders alive and to allow them to carry out their vital work."
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