From: Colombian Labor Monitor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 16:11:39 -0500 (CDT) To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: AI: Urgent update on UA 102/01 on Colombia ________________________________________________________________ AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION APPEAL UPDATE ________________________________________________________________ Go to http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/newslett.html to read this month's newsletter. 8 August 2001 Further information on UA 102/01 issued 19 April 2001 - Fear for Safety COLOMBIA Civilian inhabitants of rural communities in the municipality of Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca department New names: Civilian inhabitants of the Alto and Bajo Naya regions, Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments The navy is reported to have withdrawn from the Bajo Naya region, which is often a prelude to a paramilitary attack on the civilian population. Army-backed paramilitaries have reportedly moved into the neighbouring Alto Naya region, and ordered local people to leave, although the area is still ostensibly under the control of the army. The Alto (high) and Bajo(low) Naya regions are the moutainous and lowland areas that surround the River Naya, which separates Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments, before it runs into the Pacific. Despite the presence of the III Brigade of the Army (III Brigada del Ejercito) in Alto Naya, paramilitary contingents have reportedly arrived in four municipalities: Santander del Quilichao, Timba, Buenos Aires and Suarez. They have reportedly threatened local peasant farmers and given the communities until 10 August to abandon the area. The paramilitaries who went into Puerto Merizalde in May 2001, threatened the inhabitants and said that they would return. The navy's II Marine Infantry Brigade (II Brigada de Infanteria de Marina) reportedly withdrew from the Bajo Naya region on 26 July. Amnesty International delegates visiting the Bajo Naya region saw that the Puerto Merizalde navy post was abandoned. Paramilitaries massacred at least 32 peasant farmers in Timba and Buenos Aires in April. After the massacre the army captured a number of paramilitaries in relation to the massacre, and this was widely publicised, but the authorities have taken no decisive action to protect the civilian communities of the region. Before the massacre they had been warned repeatedly that an attack was imminent, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights had asked them on 3 April to take precautionary measures, but the security forces made no apparent effort to prevent the attack. Two hundred indigenous people were forced to flee their homes by the April massacre, and are now sheltering in Santander del Quilichao. They plan to return to their homes on 10 and 11 August. Amnesty International is concerned that the paramilitaries may prevent them from returning, and may subject them to further serious human rights violations, forcing more people to flee their homes. FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters: - expressing concern for the safety of the indigenous and afro- Colombian communities living along the River Naya, in Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments, who have reportedly been threatened by army-backed paramilitaries, and of the 200 forcibly displaced indigenous people due to return to their lands on 10 and 11 August; - urging the authorities to take action to protect the civilian population, expressing concern at reports that the navy has withdrawn from Bajo Naya; - expressing concern that paramilitaries have reportedly ordered local people to leave the Alto Naya municipalities of Santander del Quilichao, Timba, Buenos Aires and Suarez by 10 August, and asking the authorities to investigate this and bring those responsible to justice; - calling for a full and impartial investigation into links between the security forces and paramilitary groups operating in Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments, 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 the Republic: Senor Presidente Andres Pastrana Arango Presidente de la Republica Palacio de Narino Carrera 8 No.7-26 Santafe de Bogota, Colombia Telegram: Presidente, Bogota, Colombia Fax: 011 57 1 566 2071 / 336 2109 / 337 1351 Salutation: Dear President / Excmo. Sr. Presidente Minister of Defense: Dr. Gustavo Bell Ministro de Defensa Nacional Ministerio de Defensa Nacional Avenida Eldorado CAN - Carrera 52 Santafe de Bogota, Colombia Telegram: Ministro de Defensa, Bogota, Colombia Telex: 396 42411 INPRE CO; 396 44561 CFAC CO Fax: 011 57 1 286 4126 / 281 1213 / 222 1874 Salutation: Dear Minister / Sr. Ministro Commander of the III Brigade of the Colombian Army (in charge of Alto Naya region): Comandante III Brigada del Ejercito Nacional General Francisco Rene Pedraza Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia Telegrams: Comandante, III Brigada Ejercito, Cali Fax: 011 57 2 330 7161 (Say 'Me da el tono de fax, por favor') Salutation: Dear Commander / Sr. Comandante Commander of the II Brigade of the Colombian Navy (in charge of Bajo Naya region): Comandante II Brigada de Infanteria de Marina Capitan de Navio Francisco Chilito Rodriguez Comando Segunda Brigada, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia Telegrams: Comandante, II Brigada Marina, Buenaventura Fax: 011 57 2 2434938 (Say 'Me da el tono de fax, por favor') Salutation: Dear Commander / Sr. Comandante COPIES TO: Alternative Legal Association: MINGA AA 40303 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 September 18, 2001. Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and defends human rights. Please do not repost this appeal to any part of the Internet without prior permission from Amnesty International. Thank you for your help with this appeal. 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