Urgent Action 6-24-10

URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA

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For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa04709.pdf

Note: Please write on behalf of these persons even though you may not have received the original UA when issued on January 26, 2009. Thanks!


23 June 2010

Further information on UA 47/09 (26 January 2010) – Fear for safety/Death threats/Killing

COLOMBIA
Members of USO and other trade unions and human rights activists in Dept. of Santander

On 17 June at 5:30 a.m., gunmen traveling on a motorcycle in the city of Barrancabermeja, Santander Department, Colombia, opened fire and shot Nelson Camacho González dead. Nelson Camacho was a member of the local branch of the oil worker's union USO, (Unión Sindical Obrera).

The killing came almost a month after a paramilitary group calling itself Joint Cleansing Command, (Comando Conjunto de Limpieza), issued a written death threat against 17 non-governmental human rights organizations, trade unions including USO, peasant farmer organizations, and organizations representing forcibly displaced people working in Barrancabermeja and the region of the Magdalena Medio, in the department of Santander.

The threat was received on 26 May and said: "Because in Barrancabermeja, the guerrilla is within all those organizations that call themselves displaced, human rights defenders, trade unions, and such a group of sons-of-bitches that think that they are untouchable. We will exterminate those that oppose development and security in the country. (…) We will not stop, we will exterminate you. Traitors of the homeland, you leave or you will be dead." (Debido a que en Barrancabermeja esta la guerrilla en todas esas organizaciones que se hacen llamar dedesplazados, defensoras de derechos humanos, sindicatos, ongs y toda una partida de hijueputas que se creen intocables. (…) no descansaremos los exterminamos. Traidores de la patria, o se van o se mueren.)

The killing raises concerns for the safety of USO members in Barrancabermeja and other trade unionists, social activists and human rights defenders in the region.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
During Colombia's internal armed conflict, paramilitary groups, operating alone or in collusion with the security forces, have frequently labeled human rights organizations, trade unions and other social organizations as guerrilla collaborators or supporters. These accusations have repeatedly been followed by serious human rights violations against members of these organizations, including threats and killings.

In Barrancabermeja, trade unions, organizations working with campesinos (peasant farmers) and non-governmental human rights organizations have repeatedly been the target of serious human rights violations in recent years.

Guerrilla groups have also threatened or killed human rights defenders they consider to be siding with the enemy.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
-Expressing concern for the safety of other members of USO and other trade union and human rights activists in the department of Santander;
-Urging the authorities to provide them with effective protection in strict accordance with their wishes;
-Calling on the authorities to carry out a full, swift and impartial investigation into the killing of Nelson Camacho González, for the results to be made public and for those responsible to be brought to justice.


APPEALS TO:

President
Señor Presidente Álvaro Uribe Vélez
Presidente de la República
Palacio de Nariño
Carrera 8 No.7-26
Bogotá
COLOMBIA
Fax: 011 57 1 337 5890
Salutation: Dear President Uribe/ Excmo. Sr. Presidente Uribe

Acting Attorney General
Dr. Guillermo Mendoza Diago
Fiscal General de la Nación (e)
Diagonal 22B (Av. Luis Carlos Galán No. 52-01)
Bloque C , Piso 4
Bogotá
COLOMBIA
Fax: 011 57 1 570 2000
(a message in Spanish will ask you to enter extension # 2017)
Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Estimado Sr. Fiscal General

COPIES TO:

Oil Worker’s Union (USO)
Calle 38, No. 13-37,
Oficina 302
Bogotá
COLOMBIA

Representative of the Permanent Office of the ILO in Colombia
Sr. José Luis Daza
Avenida 82 N 12-18 Oficina 504
Bogotá, COLOMBIA

Ambassador Maria Carolina Barco Isakson
Embassy of Colombia
1101 17th St, NW
Washington DC 20036
Fax: 1 202 332 7180
Email: cwashington@cancilleria.gov.co

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 4 August 2010.

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This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact information and stop action date (if applicable). Thank you for your help with this appeal.

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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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