Colombia: Authorities must guarantee safety of demonstrators

[Judi Lynn]

February, 27 2009

Colombia: Authorities must guarantee safety of demonstrators

President Álvaro Uribe must make a strong public statement in support of the important and legitimate work of human rights defenders. Failing to do so risks giving a green light to those who wish to attack them, said Amnesty International today.

Amnesty International’s call came in the run up to demonstrations scheduled to take place in Bogotá and other Colombian cities on 6 March in protest at human rights violations committed by the security forces. The demonstrations are being organized by the human rights coalition National Movement of Victims of State Crimes (Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado, MOVICE).

A number of Colombian trade unionists and human rights defenders were killed or threatened just before or soon after last year’s 6 of March mass demonstrations, also organized by MOVICE. Numerous Colombian human rights organizations also received email threats at the time, reportedly from paramilitary groups.

“The threats and killings that tragically marred last year’s marches must not be repeated. The legitimate right of everyone to peaceful protest must be guaranteed by the Colombian authorities,” said Marcelo Pollack, interim Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Americas Programme.

More:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGPRE200902279598&lang=e