emma_goldman
13th September 2006, 00:34
News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International
Colombia: Government gives “green light” to attacks against human
rights activists
(Madrid) In a new report released today, Amnesty International
criticizes the Colombian government for giving a “green light” to attacks
against human rights defenders in the country and called on the
international community to support local activists more effectively.
The report -- which includes numerous case studies -- highlights the
difficulties faced by scores of individuals and organizations in cities
and in remote areas of Colombia who work to protect civilians and to end
impunity.
“Attacks against human rights activists in Colombia have a double
purpose: they aim to silence individuals and prevent others from continuing
with their work,” said Sofia Nordenmark, Amnesty International human
rights defenders coordinator.
“Some individuals have received threats so regularly that they consider
it part of their routine. Others have been forced to leave their
communities.”
Luis Torres, a human rights campaigner from the community of El Salado,
has represented his community before the authorities in relation to two
massacres allegedly carried out by army-backed paramilitary groups. He
also campaigned on the conditions for the safe return to El Salado of
community members who had fled following threats from the guerilla group
FARC. On 26 May 2005, he was charged with rebellion and detained. He
was conditionally released on 8 June 2005. However, the investigation
remains open despite obvious flaws in the evidence.
Cases received by Amnesty International also reveal that individual
attacks, such as killings and threats, are part of a wider strategy to
clamp down on reports of human rights violations and on the links between
paramilitary groups and the army.
“The official strategy against human rights campaigners seems to be
three folded: government authorities publicly question their legitimacy,
mount unfounded legal processes and fail to bring to justice those who
commit the attacks, even when evidence is widely available.”
“Impunity faced by those who attack human rights activists is a
dangerous weapon. It sends the message that civilians must refrain from
demanding justice."
In response to the demand for protection, the Colombian government has
developed a number of programmes aimed at protecting individual human
rights campaigners, trade unionists and journalists. The programmes
include the provision of security guards, bullet-proof jackets and special
transport. Hundreds have been benefiting from the programme.
“Practical protection measures are not enough as they fail to create
the basic conditions for human rights campaigners to work freely. The
best way of protecting human rights defenders is by bringing to justice
those who attack them.”
Amnesty International called on President Uribe to use his second term
in office to tackle the endemic impunity for human rights violations
by:
Publicly recognizing the legitimacy of human rights activists;
Ensuring that those responsible for human rights violations are brought
to justice;
Preventing the use of unfounded criminal charges against human rights
activists.
For a copy of "Colombia - Fear and Intimidation: The dangers of human
rights work", please see:
http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maae86PabtdBmbHtN7fb/
All AI documents on Colombia:
http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maae86PabtdBnbHtN7fb/
International
Colombia: Government gives “green light” to attacks against human
rights activists
(Madrid) In a new report released today, Amnesty International
criticizes the Colombian government for giving a “green light” to attacks
against human rights defenders in the country and called on the
international community to support local activists more effectively.
The report -- which includes numerous case studies -- highlights the
difficulties faced by scores of individuals and organizations in cities
and in remote areas of Colombia who work to protect civilians and to end
impunity.
“Attacks against human rights activists in Colombia have a double
purpose: they aim to silence individuals and prevent others from continuing
with their work,” said Sofia Nordenmark, Amnesty International human
rights defenders coordinator.
“Some individuals have received threats so regularly that they consider
it part of their routine. Others have been forced to leave their
communities.”
Luis Torres, a human rights campaigner from the community of El Salado,
has represented his community before the authorities in relation to two
massacres allegedly carried out by army-backed paramilitary groups. He
also campaigned on the conditions for the safe return to El Salado of
community members who had fled following threats from the guerilla group
FARC. On 26 May 2005, he was charged with rebellion and detained. He
was conditionally released on 8 June 2005. However, the investigation
remains open despite obvious flaws in the evidence.
Cases received by Amnesty International also reveal that individual
attacks, such as killings and threats, are part of a wider strategy to
clamp down on reports of human rights violations and on the links between
paramilitary groups and the army.
“The official strategy against human rights campaigners seems to be
three folded: government authorities publicly question their legitimacy,
mount unfounded legal processes and fail to bring to justice those who
commit the attacks, even when evidence is widely available.”
“Impunity faced by those who attack human rights activists is a
dangerous weapon. It sends the message that civilians must refrain from
demanding justice."
In response to the demand for protection, the Colombian government has
developed a number of programmes aimed at protecting individual human
rights campaigners, trade unionists and journalists. The programmes
include the provision of security guards, bullet-proof jackets and special
transport. Hundreds have been benefiting from the programme.
“Practical protection measures are not enough as they fail to create
the basic conditions for human rights campaigners to work freely. The
best way of protecting human rights defenders is by bringing to justice
those who attack them.”
Amnesty International called on President Uribe to use his second term
in office to tackle the endemic impunity for human rights violations
by:
Publicly recognizing the legitimacy of human rights activists;
Ensuring that those responsible for human rights violations are brought
to justice;
Preventing the use of unfounded criminal charges against human rights
activists.
For a copy of "Colombia - Fear and Intimidation: The dangers of human
rights work", please see:
http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maae86PabtdBmbHtN7fb/
All AI documents on Colombia:
http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maae86PabtdBnbHtN7fb/