The following urgent actions are based on information received directly by
the Colombia Human Rights Committee in Washington D.C.
On May 3, 1995 more than 150 indigenous leaders from different
organizations, including the Cabildo Mayor Yanacona, Autoridades Indigenas
de Colombia (AICO), El Consejo Regional Indigena del Cauca (CRIC), La
Organizacion Indigena de Colombia (ONIC) and la Alianza Social Indigena
ASI), held a meeting to discuss the current Organic Law of Territorial
Arrangement (Ley Organica de Ordenamiento Territorial), presently awaiting
approval from the Colombian Congress. This law, which has its origins in
the 1991 Constitution, should recognize the autonomy and special rights of
indigenous communities to preserve their cultural traditions. Although the
communities were consulted, their contribution to the Organic Law was
ignored. Instead, the proposed law threatens the communities' rights to
autonomy as granted by the Constitution. In an open letter summarizing the
conclusions of the meeting, the indigenous organizations denounce the
government's unwillingness to establish a working dialogue and reject the
proposed Organic Law since it ignores past accomplishments by indigenous
communities. The indigenous peoples of Colombia are calling for letters
from institutions and individuals supporting recognition of the indigenous
rights included in the 1991 Constitution. Specifically, the letters should
call for the replacement of the present version of the Organic Law of
Territorial Arrangement with one that fully guarantees the autonomy rights
of indigenous communities. Please address your letters to President Samper
at the address given below.
A second case regarding urgent actions and support with letters is related
to a dehumanized "massacre" of five civilian young men that took place in
the Municipality of Anzoategui in the department of Tolima. According to
their families, last February 5 these young men-Danilo Triana Munoz (27),
Fernando Triana Munoz (24), Jorge Saul Pineda Paredes (27), Fabian Oswaldo
Lopez (27), and Jose Robert Chacon Rengifo (27)-set out to visit a
waterfall at a rural location known as Juambeima to take photos and enjoy
the countryside. However, in the afternoon, when returning to their home
town, the city of Ibague, the group was tortured and killed and their
motorcycles set ablaze at a site known as the Chorro de Neftali, between
the municipality of Anzoategui and the hamlet of El Palomar. The families
of these five young men want an efficient and exhaustive investigation by
the Colombian justice system as well as the support of individuals and
international institutions that work in human rights in order to publicize
and solve this crime.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Demand through letters and faxes that the Colombian Government ensure, in
the first case, respect for the indigenous rights, and in the second case,
an exhaustive investigation in order to clarify and give a satisfactory
answer to the families of the five young men.
PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING AUTHORITIES:
President Ernesto Samper
Palacio de Nariilo
Bogota, Colombia
011-57-1-286-7434 (fax)
Procurador General
Orlando Vasquez
Procuraduria General de la Nacion
Edificio Banco Ganadero
Cra 5a # 15-80
Bogota, Colombia
011-57-1-342-9723 (fax)
Minister of Defense
Fernando Botero
Ministerio de Defensa
Avenida El Dorado-Cra. 52
Bogota, Colombia
011-57-1-222-1874 (fax)
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South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC)
Box 28703
Oakland, CA 94604
(510) 834-4263 Fax: (510) 834-4264 Email: saiic@igc.apc.org
Home Page: http://www.igc.apc.org/saiic/saiic.html
For more information about SAIIC, send e-mail to <saiic-info@igc.apc.org>