PLEASE HELP

Members of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó in Colombia have been the focus of suspicion and hostility from all parties to the armed conflict since the Community’s formation in 1997. More than 170 have been killed since then, mostly at the hands of paramilitaries, either acting alone or with the collusion of the security forces. Guerrilla groups have also been responsible for a number of killings.

The Peace Community of San José de Apartadó consists of people living in some hamlets and villages in the municipality of Apartadó, Antioquia department, who have pledged not to participate in the 40-year conflict between the security forces and paramilitaries on the one side and guerrilla groups on the other. The Community refuses to bear arms or to provide information or logistical support to any side. In return, they demand that the parties to the conflict respect their decision and do not enter their communities.

One of the most shocking attacks against the community took place on 21 February 2005. Eight people, including four children, were killed by army troops and paramilitaries and their bodies mutilated. The trial of 10 members of the army's 17th Brigade alleged to have participated in the killings, including a lieutenant-colonel, a major and a captain, began on 24 August 2009. Although the scale and nature of the 2005 killings forced the Colombian authorities to act, little progress has been made in investigating the vast majority of abuses committed against the community.

Since the 2005 massacre, the community has been subject to repeated threats and attacks. On 26 August 2009 two unidentified armed men stopped three members in Nueva Antioquia and took them to a nearby paramilitary base, where they were tied up and threatened. They were released the following day.

On 6 February 2008 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued a further order calling for immediate action from Colombia to guarantee the safety of Peace Community members. The authorities have failed to take effective action to implement the Court’s orders, thus falling short of their obligations under international law.

ACT NOW

1. Write to the President of Columbia:

• calling for the right of civilians – including members of the San José de Apartadó Peace Community – not to be drawn into the hostilities to be respected by all parties in the conflict;
• asking for all human rights abuses against the members of the San José de Apartadó Peace Community to be investigated and those responsible brought to justice;
• calling for the authorities to take all the measures necessary, in accordance with those at risk, to guarantee their safety.

Señor Presidente Álvaro Uribe Vélez
Presidente de la República
Palacio de Nariño
Carrera 8 No.7-26
Bogotá
Colombia

Fax: +57 1 337 5890 Salutation: Dear President Uribe/ Excmo. Sr. Presidente Uribe

2. Write a letter of support to the peace community of San José de Apartadó:

Estimados amigos y amigas de la Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó:

Con este mensaje queremos hacerles llegar nuestra solidaridad y acompañarles en el duro camino de su comunidad como Comunidad de Paz.

Reciban un cordial saludo

(Dear friends of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, Through this message we would like to offer you our solidarity and accompany you on the difficult journey that your community is making as a Peace Community. Best wishes)

Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó
AA 243 de Apartadó
Antioquia
Colombia

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