COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Evangelicals and Catholics march for peace in San Pablo; leaders request letters regarding assassination
June 26th, 2009
in:
CPTnet
26 June 2009
COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Evangelicals and Catholics march for peace in San Pablo; leaders request letters regarding assassinations
by Elena Wake
On 5 June 2009, delegates and team members of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) attended the “Clamor for Life and Peace,” in San Pablo, a municipality along the Magdalena River in southern Bolivar province. A coalition of local Evangelical pastors organized the prayer rally and march in the community where thirteen people have been killed this year. The organizers also invited Catholics and members of human rights and community organizations to participate.
The event started in the central park of San Pablo, with music and speeches by participating group representatives. Then the march circled around the village and returned to the central park. CPTer Gladys Gomez closed the event by reading a litany. Three other CPTers and five CPT delegates also participated in the rally and march.
About 1000 Catholics and Evangelicals took part. While past mobilizations for peace have been organized in San Pablo, joint ecumenical efforts are unusual, which made this collaboration for peace among area Christians significant.
Local Colombian human rights organizations have called for an investigation into the assassination of community leader Edgar Martínez Ruiz and twelve others killed this year. Because of their work, this week members of a human rights organization in San Pablo received death threats. The south Bolivar region continues to face pressure from, and fighting among, paramilitary groups.
CPT has asked San Pablo community leaders how the public can support their movement for protection of fundamental human rights. The San Pablo leaders request that the international community apply pressure by sending written appeals for an investigation into the death of Edgar Martinez Ruiz, the other victims of assassination, and the death threats made against human rights organizations. The leaders wish to receive these letters by email so they can personally deliver them to the authorities. The team requests that you send these letters before 14 July 2009, so that a CPT delegation in the country at that time may also participate in delivering letters.
Letters in English or Spanish should be directed to the Personería (Municipal Human Rights Representative) and the Fiscalía (Municipal District Attorney) of San Pablo. Below are sample letters in Spanish and English. If possible, please sign one of these letters, scan it (to include your signature), and email it as an attachment to the Colombia team at ecapcolombia [at] edatel [dot] net [dot] co. You are also welcome to write your own letter if you wish. If you do not have access to a scanner, the next best option is to save the letter as PDF file with your address, attach it to an e-mail, and send it to the team. You may also simply send your e-mail with your mailing address, if the other two actions are not an option. CPT will forward the letters to the San Pablo community leaders, who will deliver them.
FECHA
Señores Personería y Fiscalía Municipio de San Pablo
Enviamos estas cartas dirigidas a ustedes las autoridades del gobierno local, reclamando sobre el asesinato de Edgar Martínez Ruiz y la falta de resultados de la investigación oficial de su muerte. El 24 de Abril 2009 el Sr. Edgar Martínez Ruiz fue asesinado a sangre fría cerca de San Pablo. El Sr. Martínez Ruiz era líder de la comunidad, participaba en diferentes espacios de derechos humanos y trabajaba en la exigencia de rendición de cuentas en el Municipio de San Pablo, Bolívar.
Exigimos que haya seguimiento para asegurar una investigación a los asesinatos e intimidación de líderes locales como Edgar Martínez Ruiz, otros, y las amenazas reciente contra los grupos de derechos Humanos, ACNUR – PDPMM, Defensoría del Pueblo Regional Magdalena Medio y Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio.
Soy ciudadano de ____________ y estoy preocupado con el enlace entre el dinero que manda mi país hacia Colombia y el número de lideres comunitarios que son asesinados diariamente con impunidad. Su atención a este asunto nos asegura que haya justicia y respeto por los derechos de los más marginados en Colombia.
Sinceramente,
NOMBRE
DIRECCION
PAIS
DATE
Personeria y Fiscalía Municipio de San Pablo
To Whom It May Concern:
We send these letters directed to you, the authorities of the local government, decrying the murder of Mr. Edgar Martinez Ruiz and the lack of results from the official investigation into his death. On April 24, 2009, Mr. Martinez Ruiz was killed in cold blood near San Pablo. Mr. Martinez Ruiz was a community leader who participated in various human rights forums, calling the government to fiscal accountability in the municipality of San Pablo, Bolivar.
I ask for follow-up to ensure an investigation into the murders and intimidation of local leaders such as Mr. Martinez Ruiz, others, and the recent death threats against the human rights organization, ACNUR – PDPMM, Defensoría del Pueblo Regional Magdalena Medio y Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio.
I am a citizen of_______________ and I am worried about the links between the money my country sends to Colombia and the number of community leaders daily murdered with impunity. Your attention to this matter will assure us that there is justice and respect for the rights of the most marginalized in Colombia.
Sincerely,
NAME
ADDRESS
COUNTRY
26 June 2009
COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Evangelicals and Catholics march for peace in San Pablo; leaders request letters regarding assassinations
by Elena Wake
On 5 June 2009, delegates and team members of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) attended the “Clamor for Life and Peace,” in San Pablo, a municipality along the Magdalena River in southern Bolivar province. A coalition of local Evangelical pastors organized the prayer rally and march in the community where thirteen people have been killed this year. The organizers also invited Catholics and members of human rights and community organizations to participate.
The event started in the central park of San Pablo, with music and speeches by participating group representatives. Then the march circled around the village and returned to the central park. CPTer Gladys Gomez closed the event by reading a litany. Three other CPTers and five CPT delegates also participated in the rally and march.
About 1000 Catholics and Evangelicals took part. While past mobilizations for peace have been organized in San Pablo, joint ecumenical efforts are unusual, which made this collaboration for peace among area Christians significant.
Local Colombian human rights organizations have called for an investigation into the assassination of community leader Edgar Martínez Ruiz and twelve others killed this year. Because of their work, this week members of a human rights organization in San Pablo received death threats. The south Bolivar region continues to face pressure from, and fighting among, paramilitary groups.
CPT has asked San Pablo community leaders how the public can support their movement for protection of fundamental human rights. The San Pablo leaders request that the international community apply pressure by sending written appeals for an investigation into the death of Edgar Martinez Ruiz, the other victims of assassination, and the death threats made against human rights organizations. The leaders wish to receive these letters by email so they can personally deliver them to the authorities. The team requests that you send these letters before 14 July 2009, so that a CPT delegation in the country at that time may also participate in delivering letters.
Letters in English or Spanish should be directed to the Personería (Municipal Human Rights Representative) and the Fiscalía (Municipal District Attorney) of San Pablo. Below are sample letters in Spanish and English. If possible, please sign one of these letters, scan it (to include your signature), and email it as an attachment to the Colombia team at ecapcolombia [at] edatel [dot] net [dot] co. You are also welcome to write your own letter if you wish. If you do not have access to a scanner, the next best option is to save the letter as PDF file with your address, attach it to an e-mail, and send it to the team. You may also simply send your e-mail with your mailing address, if the other two actions are not an option. CPT will forward the letters to the San Pablo community leaders, who will deliver them.
FECHA
Señores Personería y Fiscalía Municipio de San Pablo
Enviamos estas cartas dirigidas a ustedes las autoridades del gobierno local, reclamando sobre el asesinato de Edgar Martínez Ruiz y la falta de resultados de la investigación oficial de su muerte. El 24 de Abril 2009 el Sr. Edgar Martínez Ruiz fue asesinado a sangre fría cerca de San Pablo. El Sr. Martínez Ruiz era líder de la comunidad, participaba en diferentes espacios de derechos humanos y trabajaba en la exigencia de rendición de cuentas en el Municipio de San Pablo, Bolívar.
Exigimos que haya seguimiento para asegurar una investigación a los asesinatos e intimidación de líderes locales como Edgar Martínez Ruiz, otros, y las amenazas reciente contra los grupos de derechos Humanos, ACNUR – PDPMM, Defensoría del Pueblo Regional Magdalena Medio y Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio.
Soy ciudadano de ____________ y estoy preocupado con el enlace entre el dinero que manda mi país hacia Colombia y el número de lideres comunitarios que son asesinados diariamente con impunidad. Su atención a este asunto nos asegura que haya justicia y respeto por los derechos de los más marginados en Colombia.
Sinceramente,
NOMBRE
DIRECCION
PAIS
DATE
Personeria y Fiscalía Municipio de San Pablo
To Whom It May Concern:
We send these letters directed to you, the authorities of the local government, decrying the murder of Mr. Edgar Martinez Ruiz and the lack of results from the official investigation into his death. On April 24, 2009, Mr. Martinez Ruiz was killed in cold blood near San Pablo. Mr. Martinez Ruiz was a community leader who participated in various human rights forums, calling the government to fiscal accountability in the municipality of San Pablo, Bolivar.
I ask for follow-up to ensure an investigation into the murders and intimidation of local leaders such as Mr. Martinez Ruiz, others, and the recent death threats against the human rights organization, ACNUR – PDPMM, Defensoría del Pueblo Regional Magdalena Medio y Programa de Desarrollo y Paz del Magdalena Medio.
I am a citizen of_______________ and I am worried about the links between the money my country sends to Colombia and the number of community leaders daily murdered with impunity. Your attention to this matter will assure us that there is justice and respect for the rights of the most marginalized in Colombia.
Sincerely,
NAME
ADDRESS
COUNTRY
