Thank you to everyone around the world who has been following my blog and supportive of my work here in Colombia. I am writing to ask U.S. citizens for your help this week in politically defending the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado.
We have some great news about activism on behalf of the U.S. government: Representative Hank Johnson from Atlanta has introduced a "Dear Colleague" letter in Congress. The letter calls on the Colombian government to create a Justice and Evaluation Commission which will both investigate the history of violations against the community as well as why the Colombian State has not provided legal justice for these crimes.
When Jesús Emilio Tuberquia, a leader of the Peace Community, was in the United States last month, he talked about the systematic attempts by the Colombian State to destroy his community. "They have used every means of violence, and it has occurred under all the presidents" since the community began in 1997, he said. After some 900 violations against the San José community, including more than 160 murders committed by the army or their paramilitary allies, only one military officer (an army captain who confessed to participating in the 2005 massacre) has ever been convicted.
By way of our Congressional Representatives, we have the opportunity to do something about this impunity of violence against a community pledged to peace. Members of Congress may sign on to this letter until THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 17th.
This is what I, the community and the organization FOR are asking of you:
Please call your Congressional Representative today!
(Congressional Switchboard, #202-225-3121) then:
* Ask for the foreign policy staff
* Say that you would like your Congressman/woman to sign on to the Hank Johnson letter on the San José Peace Community in Colombia
* Offer to send the staff person a copy of the letter. (I have posted the letter to my blog below and you can access a PDF copy of it here: http://forusa.org/sites/default/files/uploads/sanjosecongltrtextmay2011.pdf)
* Urge them to contact Sascha Thompson in Hank Johnson's office at:
225-1605 (do not call Sascha yourself)
*Say you would like to hear back from them and leave your phone number
Success! Thanks for your efforts in solidarity!
* Give FOR a call at 510-763-1403 or send us an email: action@forusa.org and let us know about your call and what staff told you.
We are looking for as many signers as posible. This action will help push the commission forward, show the Santos' government that the U.S. as a whole is concerned about impunity, and once again raise the visibility of the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado. If you can take time to do this before Friday, please do.
Below is a list of signers from a Dear Colleague letter in 2005 regarding the massacre of the same year. If you are in the district of someone on this list or know anybody who is, please call them and urge them to sign onto this letter. Even if you don’t know anyone in these districts, please encourage your fellow activists, friends and community members to also take the time out of their day and make a call to their representatives.
On behalf of the entire FOR Colombia team (Emily, Sean, Jon, Liza, John, Susana and myself) THANK YOU in advance for supporting the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado.
List of signers for letter regarding massacre, 2005:
- Peter Defazzio, Oregon's 4th
- Rosa DeLauro, Conneticut's 3rd
- Elliot Engel, New York's 17th
- Sam Farr, California's 17th
- Bob Filner, California's 51st
- Raul Grijalva, Arizona's 7th
- Luis Guitierrez, Illinois' 4th
- Maurice Hinchey, New York 22nd
- James Langevin, Rhode Island's 2nd
- Barbara Lee, California's 9th
- Zoe Lofgren, California's 16th
- Nita Lowey, New York's 18th
- Jim McGovern, Massachusetts 3rd
- Pat Meehan, Pennsylvania's 7th
- Gregory Meeks, New York's 6th
- John Olver, Massachusetts 1st
- Donald Payne, New Jersey's 10th
- Bobby Rush, Illinois' 1st
- Janice Schakowsky, Illinois' 9th
- Christopher Smith, New Jersey's 4th
- Henry Waxman, California's 30th
- Lynne Woolsey, California's 6th
Current letter for which we seek Congressional support, 2011:
Mr. Angelino Garzón
Vice President of Colombia
Carrera 8a No.7-57
Bogotá, Colombia
Dear Vice President Garzón:
We write to strongly encourage you to expeditiously create a Justice Evaluation Commission to examine alleged human rights abuses committed against the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, and to effectively investigate and prosecute assassinations of members of the Peace Community by paramilitary groups operating in the area.
The purpose of this commission would be to analyze the text of the Right of Petition submitted to the High Courts (January 2009) This document, submitted by Jesuit Priest Father Javier Giraldo, contains details of over 180 killings of Peace Community members, including the names of state agents allegedly implicated, the status of investigations and recommendations and to examine alleged irregularities in the administration of justice. The final commission’s report will provide to all interested parties a diagnosis of how the judicial process has operated in these cases, and make recommendations to correct the failings.
Considering the role ascribed to the Ombudsman, Mr. Volmar Perez, by the Constitutional Court in its jurisprudence, Mr. Perez should negotiate its creation with the Prosecutor General in order to establish whether or not the Prosecutor is willing to support it
As you know, the U.S. Congress has monitored the situation of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó for many years. On numerous occasions, Members of the U.S. Congress have expressed to the Colombian Government their concerns regarding assassinations of Peace Community members by paramilitary groups and members of the Colombian National Army, as well as concern with continued threats against Peace Community activists.
After Congress learned of the February 21, 2005, massacre of seven Peace Community members, including three small children and a teenager, by paramilitary forces of the United Self Defense Forces and members of the Colombian National Army´s 17th Brigade, the U.S. temporarily suspended some foreign aid to Colombia and ceased providing assistance to the 17th Brigade.The lack of effective investigation and prosecution of these cases is deeply troubling, particularly in light of continued U.S. military assistance to the Government of Colombia. As of today, only one conviction of a state agent has resulted from investigation of the killings.
In October of 2010, several Members of Congress met Mr. Jesus Emilio Tuberquia, the legal representative from the Peace Community of the San José de Apartadó. Mr. Tuberquia expressed his deep concern with the ongoing threats against and assassinations of members of his community, the lack of protection and effective support from the Colombian Government, the continuous existence of paramilitary groups who operate with impunity, and the lack of investigation and prosecution of many cases of intimidation or alleged murder.
It is troubling to learn that paramilitary groups continue to operate bases in Nueva Antioquia (Antioquia Department) and nearby Batata (Cordoba Department), and that these groups are consistently targeting the civilian population and in particular members of the Peace Community. In addition, we are aware of a list that has been circulating in the area which threatens the lives of Peace Community leaders. We would like to take this opportunity to urge the Colombian Government to immediately investigate these allegations.
We would also like to express our deep satisfaction with the meeting in November of 2010 between representatives from the Vice Presidency´s Human Rights Program, and representatives of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó in Bogotá. It is our understanding that during the meeting the Peace Community reiterated to the Colombian Government the urgent need for effective protective measures. We were pleased to learn about the Santos’ administration wiliness to investigate and prosecute the crimes and human rights violations suffered by Peace Community members as well as the administration’s acknowledgment of Peace Communities as important humanitarian zones for the protection of Colombian civilians affected by the armed
conflict. We welcome these observations and the government’s intention to seek justice for the Peace Community’s victims. We hope such expressions will be followed by appropriate action.
While this meeting represents a very positive step, it is imperative to reiterate the importance of moving towards the creation of a Justice Evaluation Commission in coordination with the Colombian Human Rights Ombudsman to effectively address human rights abuses, and to fully investigate and prosecute all pending assassination cases.
Please bear in mind that Members of Congress must approve continued U.S. military assistance to the Government of Colombia. Continued reports of military and paramilitary abuses against civilian activists and apparent negligence in the investigation and prosecution of such acts call into question the commitment of the Colombian government to civil rights and accountability on the part of the Colombian military. We believe it is in the best interest of all parties for the Colombian government to demonstrate a stronger commitment to protection of its civilian activists so U.S. policymakers continue to feel comfortable providing substantial military assistance to the Government of Colombia.
We would like to restate our strong support for the creation of the Justice Evaluation
Commission as a crucial initiative of significant interest to the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, and we urge you to take the necessary steps towards the prompt establishment of the Commission.
Sincerely,
[signatures]
Cc: Mr. Peter McKinley, U.S. Ambassador
Cc: Mr. James Steinberg, Deputy Secretary of State
Cc: Mr. Volmar Perez, Human Rights Ombudsman
Cc: Mr. Germán Vargas Lleras, Minister of the Interior
Cc: Mr. Fernando Pareja Reinemer, Vice-Prosecutor General
Cc: Mr. Alejandro Ordoñez, Inspector General
