CPTnet
15 June 2007
COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Justapaz office robbed, sensitive information taken
[Note: U.S. constituents, please take the time to call your congressional
representatives and ask them to support changes to the Colombia aid package
in the upcoming foreign aid bill. Go to
http://www.cpt.org/urgent_actions/urgent.php for more information.]
Justapaz, a program of the Mennonite Church of Colombia, reports that
before 3:00 a.m. on 14 June 2007, its office in Bogotá was robbed.
Leaving other valuable items untouched, the perpetrators stole two computers
containing sensitive information on people and churches active in peace work
and on victims and witnesses of human rights violations. Eyewitnesses in the
neighborhood reported that soon after the time of the break-in, police
officers stopped two men carrying a computer, near the office, but no
information is yet available about whether the police retrieved the
computer.
This attack occurred twelve days after a similar break-in and computer
theft in the office of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, which provides
international accompaniment to the Peace community of San José de Apartado
(which does not allow weapons in its boundaries.) In January of 2007, the
Permanent Assembly of the Civil Society for Peace also suffered the theft of
a computer containing sensitive documents and photographs.
The attack against Justapaz gives further evidence that perpetrators are
seeking access to information that places people and organizations at risk.
Significantly, this is the first such attack on a church working for the
safety of victims and witnesses of human rights abuses.
Justapaz promotes initiatives in nonviolence, conflict resolution, peace
education and action, and the documentation of human rights. It also
supports the activities of churches and social and community organizations
working for human rights and peace.
Justapaz is one of Christian Peacemaker Teams' sister organizations and part
of CPT's inviting body to Colombia. During the last six years its
courageous work in the areas of justice, peace, human rights, truth and
reconciliation has been a resource for the Colombia team, as well as a
symbol of hope for communities nationally and internationally seeking to
promote a Christian peace witness in Colombia.
REQUESTED ACTIONS
Call on U.S. and Canadian government officials to urge Colombian authorities
to
*Take all appropriate steps to identify and prosecute those who planned and
executed this act.
*Take a clear stand against this crime and in support of work for human
rights, peace and social initiatives,
* Take steps to be in compliance with the Colombian Constitution and
international conventions Colombia has signed regarding human rights
*Implement appropriate measures for protection and respect of church sites
and places of worship.
Call on the U.S. and Canadian governments to make human rights requirements
a central consideration in determining assistance to and/or agreements with
the Colombian government.
As people and communities of faith, pray for increased commitment to a
societies characterized by nonviolence, peace and human dignity. Pray also
for those responsible for this attack: that they will turn themselves in,
repair the damage, and change their lives.
Send communications to:
IN THE US:
Chargé d' Affaires Milton Drucker
United States Embassy Bogotá
Calle 22D-Bis # 47-51
Bogotá, D.C.
Tel: (571) 315-0811
Fax: (571) 315-2171 / 2190
E-mail: AmbassadorB@state.gov
Jonathan D. Farrar
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Department of State
Phone: 202-647-2590 Fax: 202-647-5283
with copy to Jennie Muñoz, Program Officer, at the same numbers
Contact information for Members of the U.S. Congress can be found at
www.house.gov <http://www.house.gov> and www.senate.gov
<http://www.senate.gov>
IN CANADA:
Mr. Matthew Levin
Ambassador to Colombia
Carrera 7 #115-33 A.A.53531
Bogotá, Colombia
Fax: (57)-1-657-9912
Matthew.Levin@international.gc.ca
Peter MacKay,
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6 8
(613) 992-6022
MacKay.S@parl.gc.ca
<http://justapaz.org:2095/horde/imp/message.php?index=352##>
Ms. Christine Climenhage,
Desk Officer: Colombia, Ecuador, Caribbean, Central America and Andean
Region Division
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Dr.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
(613) 995-1541
Christine.climenhage@international.gc.ca
<http://justapaz.org:2095/horde/imp/message.php?index=352##>
Stewart Wheeler, Counsellor (Political) Canadian Embassy, General
Relations, Fax: (57-1) 657-9910 E-mail: bogota@international.gc.ca
<mailto:bogota@international.gc.ca>
Sample letter to State Department (US) and Foreign Affairs Office (Canada)
and to the US and Canadian Embassies in Colombia:
June 2007
Dear ________,
I write today to express my deep concern for the security and safety of the
JUSTAPAZ staff and their regional partners, including local churches,
because of an apparently politically motivated robbery in the early morning
of Thursday, June 14, 2007. Justapaz is also called the Christian Center
for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action and is a program of the Colombian
Mennonite Church.
Just before 3 a.m., unknown assailants broke into the JUSTAPAZ office,
disabled the alarm system and proceeded to steal two computers with
extremely sensitive human rights information and information on churches
working for peace. The assailants were apparently focused only on these
computers with sensitive information, because they left other items of value
behind, including eight other computers, a fax machine and the
organization's safe. All evidence suggests that this crime was a
politically motivated. The JUSTAPAZ staff, their partners and local
churches could be at increased risk due to this attack.
This robbery comes in the wake of a series of similar attacks against
national and international human rights organizations. Less than two weeks
ago the Fellowship of Reconciliation's Bogotá office was similarly
attacked, and a computer with sensitive information regarding their work
with the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community was stolen. In the past year
similar actions were carried out against the Asamblea Permanente de la
Sociedad Civil por la Paz and the Consultancy for Human Rights and
Displacement
(CODHES.)
Therefore, I respectfully ask you to contact the appropriate Colombian
government officials, including the President, Vice-President and the
Ministry of Defense, asking them to:
*Take all steps necessary to identify and prosecute those who planned and
those who carried out these crimes.
*Take a clear public position rejecting these crimes and demonstrating
respect for organizations and churches working for human rights, peace and
community organization
*Fully apply the constitutional guarantees regarding these groups and
activities as well as human rights specified in international treaties of
which Colombia is a signatory.
*Take measures to guarantee the right to religious freedom and the absolute
respect for church buildings.
Sincerely,
Name
City, State
Country
_______________
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