PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SEND AN EMAIL TO COLOMBIAN AND INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITIES TO DEMAND AN END TO THE MASSACRES OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS! https://afgj.salsalabs.org/nomoremassacresincolombianomasmasacresencolombia/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=10997e6d-eb47-4cee-80bd-4302906a2314
The Alliance for Global Justice is extremely concerned with
the recent increase of violence in Colombia. In our June 16, 2020 action, we
asked you to sign a letter asking Members of the USA Congress to act
immediately to protect the lives of social leaders, peasants, indigenous and
Afro Colombians victims of the violence generated by the illegal arm forces
present in their communities. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, the human
rights situation in Colombia has worsened to disturbing levels.
In 2020, there have been 43 massacres with most of the victims
in the Colombia states of Nariño, Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Antioquia, Arauca,
and Santander del Norte. A considerable increase happened in August, after the
Colombia Supreme Court ordered the house arrest of the Ex-President
Uribe. During this month, there have been six massacres, with a total of 24
victims. Among the victims are six children, three indigenous Awa of the
Pialapi Pueblo Viejo, in Nariño, and seven young men under 26 years of age.
These massacres are adding to the difficult situation in
Colombia, the most dangerous country in the world for human rights defenders.
Since 2018, social leaders, environmental activists, and social activists
totaling 183 have been killed. During the same period, 222 ex-combat signers of
the Peace Agreement also were killed. In other words, social movement
leaders and former insurgents were being killed in political violence at a rate
of around one person every three days. Following the election of President
Duque, the rate rose to around one person killed every other day. Around
Christmas of 2019, the rate of killings rose to one social movement leader,
human rights defender, or peace process participant killed every day. As of
August 19, 2020, Indepaz listed a total of 243 social leaders, human rights
defenders, or peace process participants that had been murdered so far this
year, bringing the rate to more than one victim of political violence per day.
If we add the 28 persons killed in the spree of political violence on Friday,
August 21, 2020, we see a new rate, as of August 25, of one victim of political
violence in Colombia every 21 hours, that is, five victims every four days.
Even when human rights defenders have denounced threats of
massacres, the Colombian government has not intervened. This includes a recent
threat of a massacre by armed groups against the Collective Territory of the
Naya River region, comprised of 73 communities. The Naya region suffered the
horrible massacre of 2001, when more than forty people were killed.
We denounce U.S.A support to train and fund Colombian military
forces over the past twenty years, using U.S. taxes to spy on reporters, human
rights defenders, politicians, judges, union leaders and possible military
whistle blowers.
We have asked you to contact your congressional representatives
to sign dear colleague letters, and we have asked you to call on Secretary of
State Pompeo to help protect human rights defenders and to hold accountable
those responsible for these violations.
We have asked the Colombian President and its government to
protect the lives of its citizens with no effective measures taken by them.
Even though these authorities do not want to hear us, we will
not be silent. We will raise up our voices as often as is necessary until the
killings stop! This increasing violence against the Colombian people and their
country’s peace must not be tolerated. From the streets of Colombia to the
streets of the U.S.A, people are rising up to demand an end to political
violence against human rights defenders and social movement leaders. This
brutality must end.
Donations can be sent
to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206,
Baltimore, MD 21212. Ph: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski2001 [at]
comcast.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/
"The master class
has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles.
The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject
class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their
lives." Eugene Victor Debs
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