CPTnet
6 June 2007
COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Fellowship of Reconciliation office burglarized,
records stolen
Christian Peacemaker Teams has learned that the Bogotá office of
Fellowship of Reconciliation, an organization that does work similar to CPT
in the northwestern peace community of San José de Apartado, had its
office burglarized and computer records stolen on Saturday, 2 June 2007.
Christian Peacemaker Teams is concerned that unidentified forces appear to
have targeted an international accompaniment organization. The San José
de Apartadó peace community has itself been the target of many attacks by
armed groups.
For a more in-depth story of events, go to
www.forusa.org/media/070604bogotarobbery.html. Please join Christian
Peacemaker Teams in making your concerns known to Colombian government and
US Embassy officials at the following addresses (a sample letter is included
below.)
Fiscalía General de la Nación: Doctor Mario Hernán Iguarán Arana,
Fiscal General de la Nación Diagonal 22-B # 52-01, Bogotá. Fax: (571)
570 2000;
(571) 414 9000 Ext: 1113 E-mail: contacto@fiscalia.gov.co
<mailto:contacto@fiscalia.gov.co> ; denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co
<mailto:denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co>
Presidencia de la República: Doctor Álvaro Uribe Vélez, Presidente de
Colombia Cra 8 # 7-26, Palacio de Nariño, Santa Fe de Bogotá Fax: (571)
566-2071 E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
<mailto:auribe@presidencia.gov.co>
Please send copies to:
Vicepresidencia de la República: Doctor Francisco Santos Calderón,
Vicepresidente de la República Carrera 8A No 5-57, Santafé de Bogotá
Tel.:
(571) 334 4507 E-mail: fsantos@presidencia.gov.co
<mailto:fsantos@presidencia.gov.co> ; buzon1@presidencia..gov.co
<mailto:buzon1@presidencia.gov.co>
Policía Nacional de Colombia Brigadier General "scar Adolfo Naranjo
Trujillo Director General Tel: (571) 315-9000 ext. 9591 Fax: (571) 428-7634
Email: jefattipon@policia.gov.co
Programa presidencial de Derechos Humanos y de Derecho Internacional
Humanitario: Doctor Carlos Franco Calle 7 N° 5 -- 54 Bogotá D.C Fax:
(571)
337 46 67 E-mail: cefranco@presidencia.gov.co
<mailto:cefranco@presidencia.gov.co>
Ministerio de Defensa Nacional: Doctor Juan Manuel Santos, Ministro de la
Defensa Avenida El Dorado con Cra 52 CAN, Bogotá Fax: (571) 222 1874
E-mail
: siden@mindefensa.gov.co <mailto:siden@mindefensa.gov.co> ;
infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co <mailto:infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co> ;
mdn@cable.net.co <mailto:mdn@cable.net.co>
United States Embassy Bogotá: Chargé d' Affaires Milton Drucker Calle
22D-Bis # 47-51 Bogotá, D.C. Tel: (571) 315-0811 Fax: (571) 315-2171 /
2190 E-mail: AmbassadorB@state.gov
Dear President Uribe and Dr. Iguarán:
I am writing to you as a supporter of the Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) in
Colombia. The CPT Colombia team is committed to supporting Colombians who
work for just and nonviolent solutions to the fifty-year-old Colombian
conflict. I am profoundly disturbed to hear of the recent attack on the
offices of CPT's colleagues at the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) in
Bogotá between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. on June 2, 2007. I understand that two
computers containing sensitive information on FOR's work with the Peace
Community of San José de Apartadó were stolen, among other items. I
understand that FOR has reason to believe that the attack was politically
motivated.
I have long been concerned about attacks by the army and by illegal armed
groups on San José de Apartadó, especially given that the community is
covered by protective measures issued by the Inter-American Court for Human
Rights. That forces are targeting an international human rights
organization accompanying the community deepens this concern.
I urge you to pressure the Colombian government immediately to undertake a
serious and responsible investigation into this crime, and into the ongoing
series of attacks and intimidation against national and international human
rights defenders working in Colombia. The perpetrators of such crimes must
be brought to justice and rule of law effectively established in Colombia.
Additionally, I urge you to issue a Presidential Directive on human rights
organizations, updating Directive 7 of former President Andrés Pastrana,
that signals Colombian government support for the work of national and
international human rights organizations.
Thank you for your attention to this disturbing matter.
Sincerely,
_______________
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Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seeks to enlist the whole church in
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