EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: AMR 23/50/93

Distr: UA/SC

Please bring this action to the attention of the person responsible for outreach work in your section so that appeals from children's and youth groups can be generated.

UA 274/93Fear for safety13 August 1993

COLOMBIA:Thousands of street children in Bogotá, the capital

Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of thousands of street children in Bogotá, the capital, following the appearance on 11 August 1993 of posters in the city centre inviting them to attend their own funerals. These posters, which announce the extermination of "delinquent street children" (delincuencia), are signed in the name of industrialists, shopkeepers and civic groups. Ironically, the posters appeared on the eve of a conference in Bogotá on violence and cruelty against children. This campaign against the street children appears to be a reaction to a reported wave of petty crime in the city centre which the authorities attribute to vagrants including street children.

Amnesty International has received an increasing number of reports of killings of so-called "social undesirables" (desechables sociales) including street children, vagrants and suspected delinquents in the principal Colombian cities. Murder operations directed against these people are routinely termed "social clean-up operations" (operaciones de limpieza social) and are generally attributed to shadowy "death squads". However, in a number of cases evidence has emerged that the so-called "death squads" were made up of members of the National Police, frequently operating with the support of local tradespeople.

Amnesty International is therefore concerned that these posters indicate the start of a new "clean-up operation" against street children and other "social undesirables" and that their lives are now at risk.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In recent years widespread and systematic human rights violations have occurred in Colombia, including torture, "disappearance" and extrajudicial execution. President César Gaviria Trujillo has repeatedly pledged his government's commitment to protect human rights. However, members of the Colombian armed and security forces continue to commit serious abuses with virtual impunity.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters either in Spanish, English or in your own language:

- expressing concern for the safety of street children in Bogotá following the appearance in the city of posters threatening their lives;

- urging that there be an immediate inquiry into these threats, in order to identify those responsible and bring them to justice;

- urging that all possible measures be taken to protect the lives and well-being of street children.

Page 2 of UA 274/93

APPEALS TO

1) President of Colombia:

Señor Presidente César Gaviria Trujillo

Presidente de la República

Palacio de Nariño

Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia

Telegrams: President Gaviria, Bogotá, Colombia

Telexes: 44281 PALP CO

Faxes: + 57 1 286 7324/7434/287 7937

Salutation:Excelentísimo Sr. Presidente / Dear President Gaviria

2) Minister of Defence:

Dr. Rafael Pardo Rueda

Ministro de Defensa Nacional

Ministerio de Defensa Nacional

Avenida Eldorado - Carrera 52

Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia

Telegrams: Ministro de Defensa Pardo Rueda, Bogota, Colombia

Telexes: 42411 INPRE CO; 44561 CFAC CO

Faxes: + 57 1 222 1874

Salutation: Sr. Ministro / Dear Minister

3) Procurator General:

Dr. Carlos Gustavo Arrieta Padilla

Procurador General de la Nación

Procuraduría General

Edificio Banco Ganadero

Carrera 5, No. 15-80

Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia

Telegrams: Procurador General Arrieta, Bogotá, Colombia

Faxes: + 57 1 284 0472

Salutation:Sr. Procurador de la Nación / Dear Dr. Arrieta

4) Attorney General:

Dr. Gustavo de Greiff

Fiscal General de la Nación

Fiscalia General de la Nación

Apartado Aéreo 29855

Santa Fe de Bogotá

Colombia

Telegrams: Fiscal General, Fiscalia General, Bogotá, Colombia

Faxes: + 57 1 287 0939

Salutation: Estimado Dr. de Greiff / Dear Dr. de Greiff

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

Human Rights and Educational Organization:

Señores

CINEP

AA 25916

Sante Fe de Bogotá

Colombia

and to diplomatic representatives of Colombia accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 24 September 1993.