From: hrcoord@igc.apc.org (Human Rights Coordinator)
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Subject: URGENT ACTION - COLOMBIA
Date: 10 Oct 92 18:14:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700608:000:3782
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Oct 10 11:14:00 1992


From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: URGENT ACTION - COLOMBIA

/* Written  7:26 pm  Oct  9, 1992 by saiic@igc.apc.org in igc:native.1492 */


OCTOBER 9, 1992 - COLOMBIA - CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION
	   INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND ALLIES ATTACKED BY MILITARY AND
	   POLICE

The Indigenous Regional Council of Cauca (CRIC) in Colombia has
put out a call for help to all organizations and individuals
concerned with human rights and indigenous peoples.  A peaceful
demonstration  taking place on the Pan-American Highway in the
Cauca region has been attacked by army  and police, under the
orders of the national and regional governments.   The
demonstration is a  part of the campaign of 500 Years of
Self-Discovery, and is composed of Indigenous peoples,  peasants,
and Afro-americans,  including many women and children of each of
these communities.

There have been 15 people seriously wounded, many more injured,
and many others detained. Several  indigenous leaders are among
those detained, including the vice-president of the Regional
Indigenous Council of Calca, JESUS ENRIQUE PINACUE, the
ex-president of the Council, JESUS AVIRAMA,  and DANIEL PINACUE,
along with other leaders of  the Council and of the different
popular organizations.   The whereabouts  of all of those who have
been detained are unknown.

The government  had at first recognized the legality of the
demonstrations  as a form of expression protected under the
National Constitution of Colombia.  But it then changed its mind,
and is now falsely accusing the demonstration of being backed by
guerrillas in order to justify its actions against the peaceful,
unarmed  demonstrators.

On the morning of October 8th, groups of demonstrators in
Rioblanco and Pescador  who were attempting to negotiate for a
demonstration site with local authorities were attacked by the
military and the police.  The demonstrators were tear-gassed, shot
at, and run over with army vehicles. On the morning of October
9th,  the three above-mentioned indigenous leaders had been
nominated to negotiate a peaceful solution.  They were beaten and
arrested by security forces, and local police deny knowledge of
their detention. The government is claiming that it is the
demonstrastors who are unwilling to negotiate.

 The demonstrators have a very clear set of demands that they
would like the government to respond to, covering human rights
issues, ecological issues, agricultural, cultural, and social
welfare issues.  ((A full set of the demands will be posted as
soon as we have translated them.))  All of the demonstrators
remain committed to non-violent resistance.  They are petitioning
the government to cease hostilities  and to instead open lines of
communication and dialogue.  Please send a fax immediately to the
following people,  in order to help protect the lives of all those
who have been detained and to help prevent any further attacks.

President of Colombia   CESAR GAVIRIA
 fax: 011  57  1  284  0472 or 286  7324 Attorney General
CARLOS GUSTAVO
 fax: 011  57  1 284  0472 Governor of  Cauca  TEMISTOCLES ORTEGA:
 fax: 011  57  28  243  597 or 244 513

U.S. Ambassador to Colombia  MORRIS BUSBY phone: 011  57  1  285
1300 Columbian Ambassador to U.S.    JAIME GARCIA-PARRA  U.S. fax:
1  212  232 8643

You can send copies of your faxes to the Indigenous Council (CRIC)
at: 011  57
 28  240 343

Postcards or letters can be sent to the President of Colombia as
follows:

Senor Presidente Cesar Gaviria Trujillo Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Narino Santa Fe de Bogota, Colombia
SOUTH AMERICA

Postcards or letters can also be sent to the U.S. Ambassador to
Colombia, the Honorable Morris Busby, as follows:

Ambassador Morris Busby American Embassy Bogota
P.O. BOX A.A.  3831
ATO  AA  34038