CPTnet
23 November 2006

COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Ask U.S. Congress members to sign bipartisan letter
urging the Colombian government to protect human rights advocates

On Saturday, 18 November, CPT Colombia attended the Popular Women's
Organization's Vigil for Peace. More than one thousand women, men and
children attended, many holding signs with the names of people who have died
in Colombia's civil wars. In front of the stage, people had placed photos
and paintings representing assassinated human rights workers. The vigil was
one more reminder that armed groups, legal and illegal, continue to
persecute those who stand up for human rights.

Over the past year, human rights defenders in Colombia have disappeared
and/or been assassinated in increasing numbers. Leaders of human rights and
religious groups, union representatives, women's organizations, journalists
and Afro-Colombian and indigenous representatives continue to receive
threats.

In response, U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Joseph Pitts
(R-PA) have composed a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, asking
her and the United States Embassy to pressure the Colombian government to
address violence targeting human rights advocates. Specifically, the letter
says the Colombian government must investigate threats and attacks against
these advocates, make statements that support the legitimacy of human rights
work, and improve protection measures for human rights defenders and other
civil society leaders.

U.S. citizens ACT NOW! Call your representative and urge him or her to sign
this bipartisan letter that Representatives McGovern and Pitts are
circulating.

Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask the operator to connect
you with your representative's office. Ask to speak with the
representative's foreign policy aide. If the aide is unable to answer your
call, leave a message.

Here is a sample script for the call:

"I am calling from [your town or city] as a constituent of Rep.______'s
district. I would like [him or her] to sign the bipartisan letter that
Reps. McGovern and Pitts are circulating urging that the State Department
pressure the Colombian government to protect human rights advocates. After
learning about the situation in Colombia from Christian Peacemaker Teams, I
have deep concerns regarding the threats, assassinations and disappearances
of human rights defenders. I believe that the defense of human rights is
important wherever in the world that human rights abuses happen. I urge my
representative to sign the letter to Secretary Rice calling on her to
pressure the Colombian government to take measures that will protect the
lives and work of human rights advocates and civil society leaders.

Thank you."

To read a copy of the letter please see:
http://www.lawg.org/docs/defenders06.pdf