Warning of an Imminent Massacre: Colombian's Call for International Support!
Just a few weeks ago Colombia's President Uribe was in
the United States with a delegation of 80 people claiming the human rights
situation in Colombia is better. Events of the last week show that the
situation is worse.
Violent and repressive tactics are being used against
thousands of Indigenous people who are participating in a national mobilization
to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis they face.
In Cauca where the most severe violence is
occurring 35 people were wounded yesterday when the Colombian military and anti-riot police
shot indiscriminately into a crowd of 12,000 who were blockading a
road.
Yesterday, the Association of Indigenous Townships (ACIN)
as well as the National Organization of Indigenous People (ONIC) warned of an
imminent massacre at the hands of the Colombian army and anti-riot
police.
Our e-mail boxes are flooded with requests for action and
support. You can help by urging the U.S. Department of State and congress
to work vigorously to ensure human rights conditions for U.S. military
assistance to Colombia are being enforced.
Under U.S. legislation the Colombian military has to ensure
that the Colombian Armed Forces are not violating the land and property rights
of Colombia's Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, and that the
Colombian Armed Forces are implementing procedures to distinguish between
civilians, including displaced persons, and combatants in their
operations."
Please call Susan Sanford, Colombia Desk Officer at
the State Department at (202) 647-3142. Here is a script of a sample message:
"I am calling today to bring to your
attention the violent tactics the Colombian army and anti-riot police are using
against Indigenous protesters. The worst of this violence is taking place
in southwestern Colombia, the department of Cauca. I want to urge you and
your colleagues to ensure that human rights conditions for U.S. military
assistance are being enforced. I also encourage you to call on the Colombian
government to deal with the protesters through dialogue and in a peaceful
manner."
Then call your member of Congress and urge them to
take action to prevent further bloodshed in Colombia.
(202) 224-3121 and ask the Capitol Switchboard operator
to connect you to your member of Congress' office, or click here to enter your address and find your representative and
their direct phone number. Here is a sample message:
"Just a few weeks ago Colombia's
President Uribe was in the United States with a delegation of 80 people
claiming the human rights situation in Colombia is better. But the
Colombian army and anti-riot police are using repressive and violent tactics
against indigenous protesters. 35 people were wounded, some possibly
fatally, when the army shot indiscriminately into a crowd. Please call on
the Department of State to take rigorous measures to ensure that human rights
conditions for U.S. military assistance to Colombia are being
enforced."
Natalia Cardona
Peacebuilding Unit
American Friends Service Committee
Tel: (215)241-7162
Fax: (215) 241-7000
www.afsc.org/colombia
www.tradeandwar.org
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