CPTnet
16 February 2007
COLOMBIA URGENT ACTION: Contact Colombian officials
regarding the disappearance of Katherine Gonzalez Torres

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) asks for your help regarding the
disappearance of Katherine Gonzalez Torres, twenty years of age, the sister
of Sandra Gutierrez Torres, member of the leadership team of the Women's
Popular Organization (Organizaci�n Femenina Popular). The Popular Women's
Organization is an important partner in CPT's work in Barrancabermeja.

On 12 February, unidentified members of the National army were involved in a
presumed attempt to abduct Aryan Alberto Pumarejo. The Space for Workers of
Human Rights in Barrancabermeja (ESPACIO) denounced this attempt. These
actions make us fear for the life and the physical integrity of Katherine
Gonzalez Torres.

THE FACTS Tuesday, 13 of February of 2007, at 1:00 p.m. Katherine Gonzalez
Torres left her house in Barrancabermeja, in the direction of her work. She
reported by telephone that she had arrived at work as she always did; since
then nothing more is known about her whereabouts.

At this point, the OFP, with the assistance of CPT, has exhausted their
search for her in the spaces she frequented and through inquiries made to
relevant authorities, who have provided no information about her
whereabouts.

We would like to request that the competent government authorities--Police,
Army, SIJIN, and DAS--undertake an immediate effort to locate and return
Katherine Gonzalez Torres to her family alive and unharmed.

WE CALL UPON the International community to contact government authorities
to intercede in the search and safe return of Katherine Gonzalez Torres, by
means of a short e-mail message or phone call directed to the following
officials:

Dr. Carlos Franco Director of Human Rights Programs, Vice-presidency of the
Republic of Colombia Fax: 011 (571) 565 97 97 ext. 744 E-Mail:
cefranco@presidencia.gov.co <mailto:cefranco@presidencia.gov.co>

Coronel Efra�n Oswaldo Arag�n Director of Human Rights Programs of the
Police Fax: 011 (571) 428 06 59 E-Mail: efrainaragon@gmail.com
<mailto:efrainaragon@gmail.com>

Dr. Juan Manuel Santos Calder�n, Defense Minister, Fax: 011 (571) 222 18
74 siden@mindefensa.gov.co <mailto:siden@mindefensa.gov.co>

Dr. Volmar Perez Ortiz National Human Rights Ombudsman Telephone: 011 (571)
314 73 00 Fax: 011 (571) 691 55 00 E-Mail: defensoria@defensoria.org.co

Dr. Edgardo Jose Maya Villaz�n National Solicitor General Telephone: 011
(571) 336 00 11 E-Mail: cap@procuraduria.gov.co, or
quejas@procuraduria.gov.co

Please send copies of your messages to: Popular Women's Organization
(Organizaci�n Femenina Popular) E-Mail: femenina@colnodo.apc.org
<mailto:femenina@colnodo.apc.org> telephones: 011 (577) 622 66 25

Phone calls are most effective, although they require fluency in Spanish.

E-mail messages should be short and to the point. Identify yourself and
where you are from, and express your concern about for the disappearance of
Katherine Gonzalez Torres. Ask the officials you contact to make every
effort to resolve the issue of her disappearance quickly.

Sample letter in Spanish:

Respetado Dr. (or Coronel) ______________:

Reciba un saludo cordial de ____(your name)____ de ___(your state or
province and country)___

Escribo a usted con una gran preocupaci�n por la situaci�n de KATHERINE
GONZALEZ TORRES, quien fue desaparecida en Barrancabermeja el 13 de febrero
de 2007. A trav�s de mi apoyo a los Equipos Cristianos de Acci�n por la
Paz, conozco algo del trabajo de la Organizaci�n Femenina Popular, y me
preocupa que la desaparici�n de la se�orita KATHERINE GONZALEZ TORRES
tenga algo que ver con el trabajo de su hermana con esta organizaci�n.

Por este motivo le pedimos que haga todo lo posible para hallar a KATHERINE
GONZALEZ TORRES sin ning�n da�o a su integridad.

Muchas gracias por la atenci�n prestada,

___(your name)____