COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK has received information from highly reliable
sources that leaders of the BCB (Bloque Central Bolivar) of the
paramilitary group AUC are seated at the negotiating table with the
Colombian government, with international supervision by the OAS
(Organization of American States).
Reportedly while AUC leaders Ernesto Baez, Julian Bolivar, and Javier
Montanez are talking about peace with the government, their paramilitary
forces are taking the following actions for communities in the Southern
Bolivar region of Colombia:
1. A food blockade, with no food allowed into these communities;
2. A prohibition of the use of cellular phones;
3. Ordering that a census of the population be carried out by community
leaders with whoever is not included in the census to “suffer the
consequences”.
The AUC leaders, responsible for countless killings and displacement of
peasants during their paramilitary careers have compiled a list of
community leaders, including a priest, whose lives are thus threatened.
What kind of a peace process, or negotiation for peace, is this? Current
developments in Colombia related to "reinsertion" of the paramilitaries are
so worrisome, that we feel it is particularly urgent that letters be
written and faxes sent to the following officials of the Colombian and U.S.
governments and to the OAS. Please write to President Alvaro Uribe, Vice
President Francisco Santos, Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo, OAS
Representative Sergio Caramagna, the U.S. Ambassador to the OAS and your
U.S. Senators and Representatives, to call for real peace negotiations and
an end to this farce of negotiating with illegal paramilitaries while these
forces continue their illegal attacks on communities and their leaders in
rural Colombia.
Colombia Support Network
November 29, 2004
Presidencia de la República
Dr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez,
Cra. 8 No..7-26, Palacio de Nariño,
Santa fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+57 1) 566.20.71 E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co ;
[OR to better send e-mail to Uribe login to http://www.presidencia.gov.co
and click on ESCRIBALE AL PRESIDENTE at the bottom of the pag
Vicepresidencia de la República
Dr. Francisco Santos
Fax 011 57 1 565 7682 or 566 2387
E-mail:fsantos@presidencia.gov.co
High Commissioner for Peace
Luis Carlos Restrepo
Email : ozuluaga@presidencia.gov.co
Fax 011 57 1 565 7688
Representative of the OAS
Sergio Caramagna
Email : scaramagna@mapp_oea.org
US Ambassador to the OAS
Mr. John Maisto
2201 C St NW
Washington D.C. 20520
Tel (202) 647 9376
Fax (202) 647 0911
Email : maistojf@state.gov
