Excmo. Sr. Juan Manuel Santos
President of the Republic of Colombia
Sr. Fiscal General Eduardo Montealegre
Attorney General of Colombia
Dear Sirs:
We are deeply troubled about the circulation in Bogotá of pamphlets with death threats against human rights defenders. The pamphlet, which first appeared on September 20, was written and stamped by the paramilitary group the Black Eagles (Las Aguilas Negras). Individuals to whom it was addressed include Diego Martínez, a member of thePermanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CPDH), Ruby Castaño of the Association for Solidarity in Help (ANDAS), and Movement of Victims of State Crimes (MOVICE) members Adriana Cuellar,Ana Jimena Bautista, Claribeth Albor (MOVICE-Bogotá) and Blanca Díaz (MOVICE-Bogotá). Other individuals named are members of a roundtable for victims and a roundtable for women. The pamphlet also targeted human rights legal defense organizations Lawyers’ Collective José Alvear (CCAJAR) and the Yiri Castro legal firm. Various television channels were also named.
This pamphlet appeared at a key moment when the peace negotiators between the FARC rebel group and the government reached agreement on four main points. The peace accords have been met with anger by paramilitary groups. In their pamphlet, the Black Eagles threaten to kill the human rights defenders and their families, stating that they should be prepared to be cut into pieces.
The distribution of these pamphlets comes in the context of long-term harassment and intimidation of members of MOVICE and other civil society organizations throughout Colombia. In 2014 alone there 55 documented killings of human rights defenders. Since 2008, we have written 40 letters to officials in the Colombian government about assassinations and threats to MOVICE members. MOVICE member Carlos Alberto Pedraza Salcedo was assassinated this year (cf our letter of Jan 26).
Because of our fear for the safety of those threatened in this recent pamphlet, we strongly urge that you
- carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the death threats, publish the results and bring those responsible to justice;
- promptly take all necessary measures to guarantee the security of members of MOVICE, their families and of human rights defenders named above;
- guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
Sincerely,
Brian J. Stefan-Szittai Christine Stonebraker-Martínez
Co-Coordinators
