The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights
http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/


Human Rights Defenders
Case BOL 290197

The International Secretariat of the OMCT requests your intervention
in the following situation in Bolivia.

Brief description of the situation :

The International Federation for Human Rights, FIDH, a member of the
network, has expressed its grave concern for  for the security and
liberty of  Dr Waldo ALBARRACIN, President of the Permanent Assembly
of Human Rights (APDH) of Bolivia.

According to the information, Waldo ALBARRACIN was illegally arrested
on 25th  January at 11:30 in La Paz, when on his way to the University
to give a course. The authors of this act were identified as
"terrorists". They pushed him into their vehicle and proceeded to
torture him: his was severely beaten all over his body, including his
genitalia, subjected to death threats and they attempted to asphyxiate
him.

After this attack, Waldo ALBARRACIN was taken to the Judicial Police
where he was locked up. He was unconscious at the time. Later he was
examined by the Forensic Doctor, Dr Ricaldi, who ordered his transfer
to the Medical Centre " The Cocacabana" because of the serious wounds
sustained.

It is believed that these acts were motivated by denunciations made by
Waldo ALBARRACIN concerning the death of Colonel Rivas, commandant of
the GES, and 15 civilians during acts of repression committed by
military and police forces on the 19th and 20th December against
workers, residents of  Amayapampa.

APDH had already called for more information on these acts. The
International Secretariat of OMCT underlines its concern over these
particularly grave acts which demonstrate a serious risk for the
security and physical or psychological integrity of Waldo ALBARRACIN,
as well as other human rights defenders and particularly members of
the APDH.

Action requested :

Please write to the Bolivian authorities urging them to :

i. adopt all necessary measures to safeguard the freedom, security and
integrity both physical and psychological of Waldo ALBARRACIN, as well
as other member of the APDH and other human rights defenders

ii. carry out a thorough and impartial investigation of the facts
alleged including those which were committed in Amayapampa, in order
to identify those responsible, bring them to trial before a competent
civil court and impose upon them the penal, civil and /or
administrative sanctions provided by law;

iii. put an end to the arbitrary actions of the forces of order, in
particular the illegal detention and the practice of torture or other
cruel, degrading or inhuman forms of treatment of detainees;

iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in
accordance with national laws and international standards.

Addresses :
S.E. Lic. Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, Presidente de la Republica,
Palacio de Gobierno, La Paz, Bolivia. Fax : + 5912 392606

Seņor Ministro de Gobierno, Ministerio del Interior, Av. Arce esq.
Belisario Salinas, La Paz, Bolivia. Fax : + 5912 371334

Geneva, January 29th 1997

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number 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