CPTnet
13 March 2007
COLOMBIA: Kidnappers release Catherine Gonzalez Torres

Christian Peacemaker Teams rejoices in the news that twenty-year-old
Catherine Gonzalez Torres, sister to Sandra Gutierrez Torres, member of the
leadership team of the Popular Women's Organization (known by its Spanish
acronym, OFP), is alive and in loving hands as of yesterday, 12 March 2007.
(See 16 February 2007 CPTnet release, "COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Contact
Colombian officials regarding the disappearance of Katherine Gonzalez
Torres.") As CPT Colombia reported in its Urgent Action, Catherine
disappeared on 13 February. Her disappearance caused a tremor throughout the
human rights organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. Local
human rights workers believe this event was likely linked to her sister's
political work against continuing paramilitary violence. However, local law
enforcement authorities responsible for investigating her disappearance have
been reticent in recognizing the disappearance as a politically motivated
crime. They claimed that she possibly ran away with a boyfriend, a claim
her sister Sandra and the OFP refuted vehemently.

According to the OFP, yesterday in the early morning hours, Catherine's
kidnappers left her bound and blindfolded near the bus terminal of
Bucaramanga--about three hours from her home town of Barrancabermeja. She
was able to free herself, and called her sister Sandra, who traveled
immediately to be with her. The OFP reports that she is traumatize and will
now begin a period of physical and psychological recovery.

CPT wishes to thank all those who responded to the Urgent Action, including
Amnesty International. We also thank those who kept Catherine, her family,
and the OFP in their hearts and prayers. Please continue to do so as
Catherine and her family recover from this trauma.