CPTnet
August 7, 2002
COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Ask Colombian military to
leave the families of the Cimitarra Valley in peace.

Dear concerned CPT Colombia supporters,

Some families in the Cimitarra River Valley have fled
from their homes in recent days because they fear the
         of an in-progress military operation. CPT
member Lisa Martens spoke on the phone Sunday morning
with Major Jorge Pineda who is partially in charge of
the operation. He said the military wants only to
stop ists.

However, CPT's experience has been that unarmed
families suffer when the army carries out operations
in the Cimitarra Valley. Civilians fear becoming
caught in the crossfire between the guerilla and the
military, and they fear becoming targets themselves,
especially of the paramilitaries, the illegal
"self-defense" groups responsible for about 80% of the
violent political acts in Colombia, and who have
documented connections with Colombia's legal armed
forces.

CPT members have witnessed the empty houses of a
community already displaced because the residents fear
for their lives. And they have witnessed ten
instances of fresh paramilitary graffiti on civilian
houses in an area where it was reported that six hours
previously the Colombian army had been present.

One farmer told the team Sunday that he offers drinks
to anyone who passes by his house, including members
of the paramilitaries, guerrillas, army and navy.
 However, since he lives in a guerrilla-controlled
zone, he is falsely accused of being a member of the
guerillas.

On February 10, the last time the CPT witnessed a
military operation in the Cimitarra Valley, the
military occupied a town of civilians. The
guerrillas fired shots at the army in the town from
the other side of the river and the army returned
fire for more than ten minutes. Both were effectively

using the town as a human shield. CPT denounced both
groups for their violent actions.

Please work with us to protect civilian lives by
calling or sending faxes [see below for more details]
and by praying that armed groups will stop izing
civilians here.

The last time CPT Colombia asked you to send faxes, we
and the Colombian civilians affected were gratified by
your response. (For your information, this time we
have double checked all the fax numbers. If your fax
doesn't go through, PLEASE phone any of the numbers
and give your thoughts verbally. Use Spanish if you
have it, English otherwise there are a few English
speakers around there.)

Guillermo Quinonez Quiroz - Commandante
Decimacuarta Brigada voice: 011 57 4 833-4435 (or
833-3250, 833-2400, 833-3269)
fax: 011 57 4 833-4448 or 011 57 4 833-2400
The fax #'s are also a voice line. So call from your
fax machine and when someone answers, say "necesito
enviar un fax". While on the same call, they will
connect you to their fax and it will start beeping.
At that point, you push send on your fax machine.

LUIS EDUARDO CIFUENTES MU