URGENT ACTION

PARAMILITARIES THREATEN INDIGENOUS LEADERS

A paramilitary group has threatened to kill Indigenous leaders in the west-central Colombian Department of Risaralda.

Three Indigenous leaders from two Indigenous reservations in Risaralda received the same text message on their mobile phones on 5 October, which read, "Member gentlemen of the leadership council, you have 5 working days to withdraw all the board because you are corrupt, otherwise we will kill your families. Sincerely, Southern Bloc" (señores organisaciones (sic) de la junta directiva, les damos 5 día (sic) avile (sic) para que retire toda la junta porque son corruto (sic) o sino lo matamos la familia. Atm Bloque Sur.)

The threat came a few days after the Risaralda Indigenous Regional Council (Consejo Regional Indígena de Risaralda, CRIR) launched a reportin which the Indigenous communities complained about the human rights abuses they have faced in the course of Colombia's long-running internal armed conflict,which are committed by all parties to the conflict: paramilitary groups, the security forces and guerrilla forces. Among other human rights abuses, the Indigenous communities say they have been subjected to death threats and killings. They also say that they are been driven out of their lands by powerful people looking to exploit the area’s significant mineral resources.

Since the threat, the Indigenous leaders have decided, for their own safety, to stay away from their communities.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language:

• Calling on the authorities to order full and impartial investigations into the death threat received by Indigenous leaders in Risaralda Department on 5 October, publish the results and bring those responsible to justice;

• Urging them to take decisive action to guarantee the safety of the Indigenous communities of Risaralda Department, in line with those communities' own wishes.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 19 NOVEMBER 2009 TO: