Model Letter

Model Letter

Doctor Alvaro Uribe Vélez
President of Republic of Coombia
Honourable President:

We have received information in which members of CENSAT Agua Viva - Association Centro Nacional Salud, Ambiente y Trabajo, CENSAT AGUA VIVA Friends of the Earth Colombia, an environmentalist organisation and member of the largest international federation of environmentalists as well as other important networks such as the Energy Project, Global Forest Coalition, International Movement for Forests, Oilwatch, Globalizing Principles, have received telephone threats in their private homes by people who have identified themselves as members of the AUC (right wing paramilitary group).

Also, the 25th of March 2003, three men wearing plain clothes arrived in a public taxi to the main office of CENSAT Agua Viva, requesting to see the owner of the building in order to proceed with a house inspection . They identified themselves as agents of the SIJIN (the intelligence unit of the Metropolitan Police of Bogota). Furthermore, during the month of February unidentified people illegally entered the offices and archives of CENSAT Agua Viva. All these events have been denounced immediately to the appropriate national authorities.

As well, we have knowledge that social organisations and Colombian NGO s, including among them CENSAT Agua Viva, have appeared in reports of the General Prosecutor Office based on vague and nonsense arguments, making false claims to their links with illegal armed groups.

Acknowledging the dramatic Human Rights situation in Colombia and for the above mentioned situation, respectfully we want to ask that your Government takes the necessary actions so that CENSAT Agua Viva has sufficient guarantees to continue developing their important work, and to guarantee the lives and integrity of its members. Also, we require that the events of the 25th of March are fully clarified, and that the General Prosecutor of the Nation reviews the false accusations that are held against CENSAT Agua Viva.

Colombia as a democratic nation must guarantee the diverse and democratic expressions of its society. We thank you for your attention to this matter.

Please Send Letters to:

Presidente de la Republica de Colombia
Dr. ALVARO URIBE VELEZ
Palacio de Nariño, Carrera 8 No.7-26 Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 00 57 1 286 74 34/286, 68 42/284 21 86 E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co; rdh@presidencia.gov.co

Vicepresidente de la Republica de Colombia
Dr. FRANCISCO SANTOS
Conserjería Presidencial de Derechos Humanos
Calle 7, No 654, Piso 3 Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 00 57 1 337 1351 E-mail: mdn@cable.net.co;
infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co; siden@mindefensa.gov.co

Ministro del Interior y Justicia
Dr. FERNANDO LONDOÑO HOYOS
Ministerio del Interior y Justicia
Palacio Echeverri, Carrera 8a, No.8-09, piso 2o., Bogota, Colombia
Fax: 00 57 1 286 8025 E-mail: mininterior@myrealbox.com;

Programa de Protección del Ministerio del Interior
Dr. RAFAEL BUSTAMANTE Dr. CARMEN MARIA LASSO Tel: 5662477 0 5662478
E-mail: dhasesoresdir@cable.net.co

Procurador General de la Nación
Dr. EDGARDO JOSE MAYA VILLAZON
Carrera 5. 15-80, Bogota
Fax: (+57 1) 284 0472;(+57 1) 342 97 23;
E-mail: reygon@procuraduria.gov.co

Fiscal General de la Nación
Dr. LUIS CAMILO OSORIO
Diagonal 22 B. 52-01, Bogota.
Fax: (+57 1) 570 20 08 ; (+57 1) 570 20 00;
E-mail: contacto@fiscalia.gov.com; denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co; webmaster@fiscalia.gov.co

Defensor del Pueblo
DR LUIS EDUARDO CIFUENTES
Calle 55 No. 10-32 Bogotá
Fax: (+57 1) 346 12 25
E-mail: secretaria_privada@hotmail.com; ecifuentes@col1.telecom.com.co

with copies to :
todos@censat.org
Colombian Embassies in your countries and your Embassies in Colombia