Further information Yolanda Cerón's killing - UA 240/01 PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 23/097/2001 24 September 2001 Further information on UA 240/01 (AMR 23093/01, 20 September 2001) - Fear for Safety/|Extrajudicial Execution COLOMBIA Yolanda Cerón (f) killed Other members of the Catholic Church Organization Pastoral Social and other human rights workers in Tumaco, department of Nariño New Names: Members of Sembrar, National non-governmental human rights organization. Amnesty International has just received news that a shortly after the killing of Yolanda Cerón at midday on 19 September, in Tumaco, department of Nariño, members of a national non-governmental organization were threatened. At 2:50pm, ten minutes after workers of the national non-governmental human rights organization Sembrar, were informed of Yolandas murder, they received a telephoned death threat at their Bogotá office. The anonymous caller, apparently referring to the killing of Yolanda Cerón, asked if they had heard the news (Ahave you heard you sons-of-bitches@, "se enteraron ya hijueputas?") and then hung up. This death threat comes shortly after other death threats against Sembrar in recent weeks (see UA 198/01, AI Index: AMR 23/074/2001,2 August 2001) and raises serious concerns for the safety of Bogatá based human rights defenders with Sembrar and human rights defenders in Tumaco, department of Nariño. FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible in Spanish or your own language: - expressing concern for the safety of members of Sembrar in Bogatá, members of Pastoral Social, other human rights defenders in Tumaco and the civilian inhabitants of the region; - urging the authorities to do everything deemed appropriate by those under threat to guarantee their safety; - calling for a full and impartial investigation into the killing of Yolanda Cerón and the recent death threat against Sembrar, urging that the results be made public and those responsible brought to justice; - calling for a full and impartial investigation into links between the security forces and paramilitary groups operating in Tumaco, department of Nariño, urging that the results are made public and those found responsible for supporting and participating in such groups are brought to justice; - urging the authorities to take immediate action to dismantle paramilitary groups, in line with stated government commitments and United Nations recommendations. APPEALS TO: President of the Republic Señor Presidente Andrés Pastrana Arango Presidente de la República Palacio de Nariño Carrera 8 No.7-26 Santafé de Bogotá, COLOMBIA Telegram: President, Bogotá, Colombia Fax: + 57 1 566 2071 / 286 7434 / 286 6842 / 284 2186 Salutation: Dear President / Excmo. Sr. Presidente Minister of Defence Dr. Gustavo Bell Ministro de Defensa Nacional Ministerio de Defensa Nacional Centro Administrativeo Nacional Avenida Eldorado - Carrera 52, OFI 217 Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia Telegram: Ministro de Defensa, Bogotá, Colombia Telex: 42411 INPRE CO; 44561 CFAC CO Faxes: + 57 1 222 0059 Salutation: Dear Minister / Sr. Ministro Minister of Interior Sr. Armando Estrada Villa Ministro del Interior, Ministerio del Interior, Palacio Echeverry Carrera 8a, No.8-09, piso 2o., Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia Telegrams: Ministro Interior, Bogota, Colombia Fax: + 57 1 341 9583 / 334 3960/ 691 5455/251 5884 Salutation: Dear Sir / Sr. Ministro COPIES TO: Non-governmental human rights organization CSPP AA 22803 Bogota 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 5 November 2001.