Colombia: Senator Disappeared

Derechos Human Rights
hr@derechos.org
http//www.derechos.org/

May 22, 1999

URGENT ACTION

ColombiaSenator Kidnaped

Derechos Human Rights asks for your immediate help with respect to the
kidnaping of Senator Piedad Cordoba

Description of the situation

According to the Permanent Assembly for Peace, an umbrella organization
that joins most of the human rights and peace groups in Colombia, senator
Piedad Cordoba was kidnaped on May 21st 1999, by a group of 15 heavily
armed men.  They took her to an unknown destination.

Senator Cordoba has drawn praise among human rights workers in Colombia
for her parliamentary work on behalf of a solution to the armed conflict
in Colombia, women's rights and black minorities in the country.  

Derechos Human Rights is gravely concerned about the security of Senator
Cordoba and urges her captors to guarantee her life and physical integrity
and free her immediately.  

Requested Actions

Please writes to the following Colombian authorities requesting that they

i. - adopt urgent measures to determine the whereabouts of Senator Piedad
Cordoba and assure her immediate freedom.

ii. - comply with their commitment to cease human rights violations
against human rights defenders, and put an end to the impunity of those
responsible;

iii. - guarantee the effective respect to human rights, according to the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the human rights conventions
ratified by Colombia.

Addresses

Dr. JUAN CAMILO RESTREPO.  Ministro Delegatario con funciones 
presidenciales de la Republica de Colombia.  Palacio de Narino, Santafe 
de Bogota.  Colombia. Fax (571)2867434.

Dr. GUSTAVO BELL LEMUS.  Vicepresidente de la Republica de 
Colombia,Palacio de Narino, Santafe de Bogota. Fax(571)3371351.

Dr. JAIME BERNAL CUELLAR. Procurador General de la Nacion. Carrera 
5 No. 15-80 Santafe de Bogota. Fax(571) 3203783

Dr. ALFONSO GOMEZ MENDEZ. Fiscal General de la Nacion. Diagonal 
22B No. 52-01, Santafe de Bogota. Colombia. Fax(571) 3461225

Dr.  FERNANDO CASTRO CAICEDO. Defensor del Pueblo. Calle 55 No. 
10-32, Santafe de Bogota. Fax. 571 2815884.


The Colombian embassy in your respective countries.

Copies toPermanent Assembly for Peace, rincon@epm.net.co

The Human Rights Action Network, a project of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.