Action Alert: International Human Rights Group Records Stolen in Colombia

Read a letter from several US Congress members to Uribe, denouncing the robbery.

The Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) denounces what appears to be a politically motivated attack on its offices on June 2 in Bogotá, Colombia.

According to people who live in the same building as FOR, unknown persons forcibly entered the FOR house/office in Bogotá between 6 pm and 7 pm on June 2, breaking the lock and part of the door. The individuals stole the FOR’s two central computers that contain the organization’s records, including information on the accompaniment of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó. This community has been the target of attacks by the all the armed groups and is covered by protective measures from the Inter-American Court for Human Rights.

Recently, FOR has worked on delicate issues such as the murder of a member and ex-leader of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, Francisco Puerta; the use of demobilized combatants in the army operations; and the presence of and threats by paramilitaries in the San José de Apartadó district. Additionally, given the documented collaboration between Colombian military and civilian officials at the highest levels and paramilitaries, FOR has led efforts to end United States military aid to the Colombian Army, and has been active in opposing the Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Colombia.

The individuals destroyed electronic equipment, including part of a satellite phone stole clothing and cash but took out and did not steal a credit card and the passport of one of the FOR team members; as well as a television and other items of value that were in plain sight. In the days before the break-in, individuals had been observed watching the house on several occasions.

This incident constitutes a serious violation against an international human rights organization that gives protective unarmed accompaniment to threatened Colombians. The violation occurs in the context of threats against other human rights organizations working in Colombia, such as the Corporation for Juridical Liberty, which resulted in an urgent action alert issued by Amnesty International. Such a climate of intolerance is reflected in statements issued by Vice-President Francisco Santos at the Council of the Americas during his recent visit to Washington. According the daily newspaper El Tiempo (May 25, 2007), the vice-president accused human rights organizations of being motivated by purely economic interests. The organizations refuse to recognize the Uribe administration’s efforts “perhaps because if they do the donor will withdraw large amounts of money. This is a business too and they would be without a job,” Santos said.

FOR continues its work of accompaniment of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, the Antioquia Peasant Association, the Youth Network of Medellín, and other Colombian groups that work for justice and peace using nonviolent means.

Requested Action:
Please send messages as soon as possible:

• expressing concern for the attack on FOR and for the security of the Colombian groups FOR accompanies;

• urging the authorities to carry out a prompt and complete investigation of the violation and to punish those responsible;
• request the Colombian government to support the work of national and international human rights organizations in Colombia, by issuing a presidential directive on human rights organizations, updating Directive 7 of 2001 issued by President Andrés Pastrana.

Please direct your messages to:

Fiscalía General de la Nación:
Doctor Mario Hernán Iguarán Arana, Fiscal General de la Nación
Diagonal 22-B # 52-01, Bogotá.
Fax: (571) 570 2000 Ext. 2017; (571) 570 2000 Ext. 2003
E-mail: nubia.camarago@fiscalia.gov.co; luzhelena.morales@fiscalia.gov.co

Presidencia de la República:
Doctor Álvaro Uribe Vélez, Presidente de Colombia
Cra 8 # 7-26, Palacio de Nariño, Santa Fe de Bogotá
Fax: (571) 337 5890; (571) 566 2672; Tel: 562 93000
E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co

Please send copies to:

Vicepresidencia de la República:
Doctor Francisco Santos Calderón, Vicepresidente de la República
Carrera 8A No 5-57, Santafé de Bogotá
Fax/Tel.: (571) 444 2158
E-mail: fsantos@presidencia.gov.co ; buzon1@presidencia.gov.co

Policía Nacional de Colombia
Brigadier General Óscar Adolfo Naranjo Trujillo
Director General
Tel: (571) 315 9000 ext. 9591
Fax: (571) 428-7634
Email: jefatidon@policia.gov.co

Programa presidencial de Derechos Humanos y de Derecho Internacional Humanitario:
Doctor Carlos Franco
Calle 7 N° 5 – 54 Bogotá D.C
Fax: (571) 565 9797
Tel: (571) 334 5077
E-mail: cefranco@presidencia.gov.co

Ministerio de Defensa Nacional:
Doctor Juan Manuel Santos, Ministro de la Defensa
Avenida El Dorado con Cra 52 CAN, Bogotá
Fax: (571) 266 0351
Tel: (571) 266 0179
E-mail: siden@mindefensa.gov.co; infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co;

United States Embassy Bogotá:
Chargé d’ Affaires Milton Drucker
Calle 22D-Bis # 47-51
Bogotá, D.C.
Tel: (571) 315 0811
Fax: (571) 315 315 2038
E-mail: AmbassadorB@state.gov

Colombian Ambassador to the United States
Ms. Carolina Barco Isakson
2118 Leroy pl NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone (202) 387-8338
Fax: (202) 232 8643

Fellowship of Reconciliation Colombia Program
Susana Pimiento-Chamorro
forcolombia@igc.org