Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 Campaign STOP IMPUNITY in Colombia 2 of 2 STOP IMPUNITY: COLOMBIA DEMANDS JUSTICE PERMANENT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN Contact us at english@contraimpunidad.org ¡And Coming Soon! www.contraimpunidad.org Colombia’s four-decade civil war, rooted in civilian repression and unjust economic structures, continues unabated. Confronting the insurgency, the Colombian government has engaged in an open war backed by its military, economic, and political might. Although a state has a right to defend itself against an insurgent movement, clearly the Colombian government has overstepped its own legal and moral boundaries of conduct. Using whatever means necessary to win the civil war, the Colombian government and its military collaborate with and employ right-wing paramilitaries, illegal armed groups responsible for over 70% of civilian massacres. The Colombian government’s indiscriminate response has resulted in a systematic and dirty war against all Colombians who favor changes in the economic, social, and political structures of the country. Grassroots social organizations, human rights defenders, union workers, politicians, members of the mediathose who promote constructive, democratic alternativeshave been targeted for elimination. Repressive methods characteristic of the last decade include undercover military and paramilitary operations resulting in massacres, disappearances, and mass displacements of entire communities. The Colombian government’s systematic policy of forced displacement, repression, and elimination of political opponents intends to destroy social and political movements for change. This dirty war has resulted in the denial of a fundamental tenet of any real democracythe right of the people to nonviolently advocate for change. The Stop Impunity: Colombia Demands Justice Campaign is part of an on-going struggle of Colombian communities and grassroots social and political organizations to overcome the devastating effects of state terrorism and the impunity that accompanies it. Crimes carried out against the civilian populationassassinations, forced disappearances, displacements, threats, economic blockadesare committed without any serious consequence or punishment of the perpetrators. The government’s structural and institutional complicity ensures impunity at all levels before, during, and after the perpetration of these crimes. In the search for truth, justice, and due reparations for the victims of crimes committed against citizens peacefully working for change, Colombian communities are constructing a social movement against impunity. The Campaign began as a response by grassroots organizations to the Barrancabermeja massacre in May, 1998 when a joint military-paramilitary operation left seven civilians dead and another 25 disappeared. The government’s refusal to conduct a serious investigation into the massacre prompted Barrancabermeja grassroots organizations to seek justice through global awareness and solidarity. International public opinion tribunals on the Barrancabermeja massacre and the bombing of civilians (including children) in the village of Santo Domingo, Arauca, have generated increased international participation in the struggle against impunity. Further solidarity action will include a tribunal related to civilian atrocities committed in South Bolívar, a lawsuit and public hearing against the Coca Cola Company for human rights violations against members of the food and beverage union Sinaltrainal, and other international public opinion tribunals involving economic, social, and cultural rights violations. The Campaign seeks to create international solidarity for the protection and accompaniment of those individuals and organizations affected by this violence. The principal goal of this solidarity action is to protect human life by preventing repressive acts against Colombian communities and organizations. Moreover, international solidarity will help guarantee the existence of resisting communities and organizations. Supporting alternative justice proposals of Colombian communities will strengthen their resolve and enable them to continue the grassroots struggle against impunity. The Campaign calls on local groups in other countries, united in national networks, to express their solidarity through coordinated volunteer actions in the construction of a global public movement against impunity in Colombia. The movement strives to educate othersconstituents, policy makers, the mediaabout the oppressive situation in Colombian and to demand changes, such as the elimination of US military aid to Colombia and the suspension of US military training for Colombian troops. Only a concerted global movement will pressure the world’s governments to levy sanctions against Colombia and end the reign of impunity. Colombian advocates for change need your support. More than just a signature on a document, the Campaign hopes that committed individuals will disseminate information about the Campaign, organize demonstrations and other acts of solidarity with the Campaign, and encourage others to join us in the struggle to Stop Impunity. Contact us at english@contraimpunidad.org ¡And Coming Soon! www.contraimpunidad.org Colombian Endorsements Stop Impunity: Colombia Demands Justice NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: Corporacion Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear Restrepo Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de Alimentos- Sinaltrainal Asociacion Nacional de Usuarios Campesinos Anuc Ur Sintraminercol Colparticipar Comisión Interfranciscana de Justicia Y Paz Corporacion Servicios Profesionales Comunitarios Sembrar Comunidades Eclesiales de Base - Cebs Humanidad Vigente Coordinador Nacional Agrario Corporacion Cleber Anthoc Nacional Unión Nacional de Empleados Bancarios - Uneb Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Políticos Sintraelecol Nacional Juventudes Obreras Cristianas Asociacion Iniciativa Juvenil de la Cut ARAUCA: Central Unitaria de Trabajadores Cut Asociación Estudiantil Regional - Asojer Asociación Departamental de Usuarios Campesinos Aduc Federación Departamental de Juntas Comunales - Fedejuntas Consejo Regional Indígena de Arauca Cria Asociación de Autoridades Tradicionales Asou´Wua Comité Regional de Derechos Humanos “Joel Sierra” ANTIOQUIA: Asociación de Campesinos de Antioquia - Aca Comisión de Justicia y Paz Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Políticos Corporación Jurídica Libertad Taller de Intercambio Laboral Comisión de Solidaridad de la Cut Fuerza Magisterial (Dignidad Educativa) Sutimac Medellin Sinaltrainal Sindesena MAGDALENA MEDIO: Mesa Regional de Trabajo Permanente por la Paz en el Magdalena Medio Federación de Agricultores y Mineros del Sur de Bolívar Fedeagroamisbol Asociación de Productores de Frijol de Micoahumado Asociación de Productores de Café de Micoahumado Espacio de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras de Derechos Humanos Organización Femenina Popular OFP Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de Alimentos - Sinaltrainal Colectivo por la Vida Sagrada Familia Comisión de Derechos Humanos de la Unión Sindical Obrera Uso Central Unitaria De Trabajadores Cut Barrancabermeja Asociación de Desplazados y Asentamientos en el Municipio de Barrancabermeja - Asodesamuba Asociación de Pescadores de Cienaga del Opón Junta de Acción Comunal de Cienaga del Opón ATLANTIC COAST: Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de Alimentos - Sinaltrainal Comisión de Derechos Humanos de la Unión Sindical Obrera Uso - Cartagena Comunidades Eclesiales de Base - Cebs - Bolívar BOGOTÁ: Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de Alimentos - Sinaltrainal Comisión de Derechos Humanos de la Unión Sindical Obrera Uso - Bogotá Unión Nacional de Empleados Bancarios - Uneb - Bogotá Comunidades Eclesiales de Base - Cebs - Bogotá SANTANDER: Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de Alimentos - Sinaltrainal Central Unitaria De Trabajadores Cut Santander International Endorsements Stop Impunity: Colombia Demands Justice CANADA: Canada Colombian Working Group Canadian Initiatives for Peace with Justice in Colombia Kairos: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives (formerly Inter Church Committee on Human Rights in Latin America and Inter Church Action) Le Comite Chretien pour les droits humains en Amerique Latine UNITED STATES: 8th Day Center for Justice American Friends Service Committee Chicago Coalition for Justice in Colombia Chicago Colombia Committee Chicago Religious Leadership Network Colombia Support Network CP Holy Cross Province Great Lakes Witness for Peace Northwestern International Human Rights Department OFM Sacred Heart Province OSF Rochester Peace Action of WA SOA Watch US Leap ======================================================