Colombia: Paralmilitary Threat Human Rights in Colombia - www.derechos.org/nizkor/colombia/ The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ Human Rights Defenders Appeal Case Col 140497 The International Secretariat of the OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Colombia. Brief description of the situation The International Secretariat has been informed, by reliable sources, of the deaths of 7 peasants, death threats to 34 peasants, and the detention and death threats against 3 Franciscan brothers, human rights defenders in Tiquisio, southern Bólivar, Colombia According to the information, on Friday, March 28, 1997, a paramilitary force (calling themselves the "Autodefensas Campesinas de Córdoba y Urabá" - "ACCU") entered the municipality of Tiquisio, in the southern part of the department of Bolívar, Colombia. The group was approximately 200 persons strong and included a number of military personnel and ex-guerrilla fighters. On the way to Tiquisio, they are allegedly to have killed three young men (3 of the 7 peasants referred to above). In Tiquisio Nuevo, they pillaged the stores of all the shops and pharmacies, taking all the money and objects of value they found. Two parish priests; Fr. Bernardo Villegas and Fr. Diego García, both OFM Franciscans, were detained for 24 hours in the parish house. Fr. Bernardo was threatened by the paramilitaries that they had received orders to kill him and others told him that he had 8 days to leave the area. Dr. Navarro Patrón, a resident of the municipality, was also detained for some hours. The paramilitaries planned to kill him, but relented after pleas for mercy. Furthermore, Fr. Jesús Martínez, also an OFM Franciscan, was in another nearby village at that time celebrating Holy Week. According to witnesses in Tiquisio, the paramilitaries were looking for Fr. Jesús Martínez in order to kill him. In Puerto Coca, a town 5 kilometers from Tiquisio, the paramilitaries killed 4 people in the presence of other inhabitants of Puerto Coca. In Puerto Rico, Tiquisio's administrative center, the paramilitary forces issued a "black list" which included the names of 34 persons. They left the area after 24 hours. The paramilitaries both entered and exited the region through an area controlled by the army which raises further concerns over the rôle of the army. The area of Tiquisio has been the subject of considerable conflict between the regular army and the guerrilla forces. According to the information received, on Friday, March 21, 1997, a regular army unit entered the region and a battle between the regular army and guerrilla forces ensued. The army was supported by an aircraft which bombed the Frontino hills, 2 kilometres from Tiquisio Nuevo. On Sunday, March 23, the army unit left the area. A large number of people have left the region. Action requested : Please write to the Colombian authorities urging them to: i. guarantee in all circumstances the respect for the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentioned persons and the population in general; ii. put an end to the harassment and systematic threats against the life, security and integrity of these persons and guarantee an impartial and exhaustive enquiry into these facts, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law; iii. put an end to the activities of paramilitary groups as well as to the co-operation and protection they received from the authorities or other state organs and ensure that they are prosecuted and severely condemned for their responsibility in human rights violations; iv. guarantee at all times the full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and international standards. Addresses : S.E. Ernesto Samper Pizano, Presidente de la República, Palacio de Nariño, Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia. FAX (+571) 284 21 86 // 28674 34 // 287 79 37 E-mail : esamper@presindencia.gov.co Dr. Carlos Vicente de Roux, Consejero Presidencial para los Derechos Humanos, Palacio de Nariño, Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia. FAX (+ 571) 341 83 64 Juan Carlos Esguerra Portocarrero, Ministro de Defensa, Ministerio de Defensa, Avenida El Dorado Carrera 52, Santafé de Bogota D.C. Colombia. FAX (+571) 222 18 74 // 288 49 09 Dr. Alfonso Valdivieso Sarmiento, Fiscal General de la Nación. FAX (+571) 288 2828 Colombian embassies in your respective countries. Geneva, 14 April 1997 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply. Ben Schonveld Projects Manager OMCT-SOS-Torture Fax 4122 733 1051 Ph 4122 733 3140 OMCT is: l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture The World Organisation Against Torture OMCT@IPROLINK.CH http://www.omct.org/