Death
Threats
continue on
the heels of
International
Human Rights
Day
January 10,
2011
Days after
organizing a
public event
to
commemorate
December
10th -
International
Human Rights
Day - human
rights
organizations
have started
receiving a
series of
death
threats.
Included
among those
threatened
are Berenice
Celeyta of
NOMADESC and
SINTRAUNICOL,
the
university
workers
union.
OPSEU and
activists in
Colombia are
familiar
with these
organizations
and
individuals.
They have
worked with
us and been
to Canada to
talk about
the
importance
of
solidarity
and the
struggle of
Colombian
unions and
human rights
organizations
to work for
social
justice.
These
threats must
be seen as
the latest
in a
continuous
campaign of
intimidation
and fear
that
NOMADESC and
others in
Colombia
face daily.
The nature
and timing
of these
latest
threats have
our partners
extremely
worried.
NOMADESC has
specifically
requested
that their
Canadian
allies, such
as OPSEU,
help to
mobilize
Canadian
support.
Please write
immediately
to:
-
Call on
the
authorities
to order
a full
and
impartial
investigation
into the
death
threats
against
members
of the
NOMADESC
and
SINTRAUNICOL
and to
publish
the
results
and
bring
those
responsible
to
justice;
-
Demand
that
they
provide
protection
for
those
threatened,
as
agreed
with
those in
danger;
-
Remind
the
authorities
to
fulfil
their
obligations
regarding
the
situation
of human
rights
defenders,
as laid
out in
the 1998
UN
Declaration
on Human
Rights
Defenders.
-
Urge the
authorities
to take
immediate
action
to
dismantle
paramilitary
groups,
in line
with
stated
government
commitments
and
recommendations
made by
the UN
and
other
intergovernmental
organizations.
PLEASE
SEND APPEALS
TO:
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
