From: Colombian Labor Monitor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 08:00:00 -0500 (CDT) To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: AI: First follow-up to Urgent Action UA 176/01 on Colombia ________________________________________________________________ AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION APPEAL UPDATE ________________________________________________________________ Go to http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/newslett.html to read this month's newsletter. ---------------------------------- 20 July 2001 Further information on 176/01 issued 18 July 2001 - 'Disappearances' / Fear for Safety COLOMBIA Reinaldo PARRA [m] Yeimi CHITIVA [f] Milton BECERRA [m] Civilian population of the municipalities of El Libano and Mariquita, Tolima department Killed: Isabel GUZMAN [f], Luciano PARRA [m], Luz Mila RODRIGUEZ [f], Orlando ORTIZ [m], Hernando PARRA [m], Otoniel MURILLO [m], Ariel Maria PARRA [m] New name: The family of Milton BECERRA Amnesty International has learnt that Milton Bercerra managed to escape from the army-backed paramilitary group that had abducted him. He reportedly sustained gunshot wounds to his shoulder and hand. He apparently witnessed the killing of his seven travelling companions. Both he and his family are now in grave danger. Milton Bercerra was abducted along with Isabel Guzman, Luciano Parra, Luz Mila Rodriguez, Orlando Ortiz, Hernando Parra, Otoniel Murillo and Ariel Maria Parra on 16 July. All of them were community leaders and relatives of peasant farmers Reinaldo Parra and Yeimi Chitiva, who 'disappeared' on 10 July after reportedly being abducted by army-backed paramilitaries near the town of Mariquita in northern Tolima. The paramilitaries allegedly responsible for their 'disappearance' had promised to let them go, if their families would meet with them. In the past, those who have witnessed human rights abuses have often received death threats, 'disappeared' or been killed at the hands of the security forces and their paramilitary allies. Amnesty International remains concerned for the safety of the civilian population in northern areas of Tolima department. On 15 July, paramilitaries apparently entered the communities of Pantanilla, Villanueva and El Bledo in the municipality of El Libano, near Mariquita, threatening and beating members of the communities. FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express/ airmail letters: - expressing concern for the safety of Milton Becarra and his family and urging the authorities to guarantee their immediate safety; - urging the authorities to establish the whereabouts of Reinaldo Parra and Yeimi Chitiva, and to secure their release unharmed, and to carry out a full and impartial investigation into their 'disappearance'; - urging the authorities to do everything necessary to guarantee the safety of the civilian population in northern areas of Tolima department; - calling for a full and impartial investigation into the abduction of Milton Bercerra and the reported killing of the seven people named above, as well as the reported paramilitary threats against and beatings of members of the civilian population of El Libano; - calling for a full and impartial investigation into links between the security forces and paramilitary groups operating in northern areas of the department of Tolima, urging that the results are made public and those found responsible for supporting and participating in such groups are brought to justice; - urging the authorities to take immediate action to dismantle paramilitary groups, in line with stated government commitments and United Nations recommendations. APPEALS TO: President of Colombia: Senor Presidente Andres Pastrana Presidente de la Republica Palacio de Narino, Carrera 8 No. 7-26 Santafe de Bogota, Colombia Telegrams: President Pastrana, Bogota, Colombia Faxes: 011 57 1 336 2109 / 565 8566 Salutation: Excelentisimo Sr. Presidente / Dear President Pastrana Minister of Defense: Dr. Gustavo Bell Ministro de Defensa Nacional Ministerio de Defensa Nacional Avenida Eldorado CAN - Carrera 52 Santafe de Bogota, Colombia Telegrams: Ministro Defensa, Bogota, Colombia Faxes: 011 57 1 221 9088 Salutation: Sr. Ministro / Dear Minister Gobernador del Departamento de Tolima Sr. Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo Martinez Gobernacion de Tolima Calle 10 y 11, Carrera 3 Ibague, Tolima, COLOMBIA Salutation: Dear Governor / Sr. Gobernador Fax: 011 57 82 638588 COPIES TO: Non-governmental human rights organization: Comite de Solidaridad con los Presos Politicos (CSPP) Apartado Aereo 22803 Santafe de Bogota Colombia Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno Embassy of Colombia 2118 Leroy Pl. NW Washington DC 20008 Please send appeals immediately. Check with the Colorado office between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending appeals after August 31, 2001. ________________________________________________________________ **************************************************************** * CLM-NEWS is brought to you by the COLOMBIAN LABOR MONITOR at * * http://www.prairienet.org/clm * * and the CHICAGO COLOMBIA COMMITTEE * * Email us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or * * Dennis Grammenos at [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * To subscribe send request to [EMAIL PROTECTED] * * subscribe clm-news Your Name * **************************************************************** _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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