Colombia: the Peace Community of San José de Apartadò is in danger!
- by: Virginia Berni
- recipient: Colombian Political Authorities
Colombia: the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado is in danger!
We call on you to remind the Colombian authorities of their responsibilities to fight Human Rights violation against the Peace Community and to guarantee its rights to protection, land and truth for the victims
The Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado, located in Colombia's northern region of Urabá, has recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary of no violent resistance. It is one the most courageous Colombian communities which took a non-violent stand against the war by refusing to support any of the armed actors in the conflict. The community’s declaration of neutrality is a way of protecting itself: this idea is based on the principle of distinction between combatants and civilians in international humanitarian law.
Since its creation, in 1997, over 200 farmers from the region have been murdered. Analysis of facts shows a collaboration between Colombian authorities and paramilitary groups in committing forced displacements, disappearances and murders. The signature of the peace agreements in Colombia, which causes the demobilization of more than 65.000 guerilla FARC members, created a new dangerous situation: illegal paramilitary groups are likely to move into areas once held by FARC and to take control through violence, threats and murders of social leaders.
The Peace Village of San Jose de Apartado is accompanied by Colombian and international human rights organizations in an attempt to help it avoid further violence, but they need our help! I had the honor of accompanying this Community months as Nonviolent Peace Corp Operazione Colomba volunteer in 2011 during three months and I think that the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado is an extraordinary example of no violent struggle and civil resistance carried out with dignity and passion which needs international awareness and action.
Sign to support the Peace Community advocate Colombian authorities guaranteeing their Human Rights as foreseen from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) and the Colombian Constitutional Court!
To be delivered to Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia, Paula Gaviria, Presidential Advisor on Human Rights, Maria Angela Holguin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luis Carlos Villegas, Minister of Defense, Jorge Eduardo Loñono, Minister of Justice, Carlos Alfonso Negret Mosquera, National Human Rights Ombudsman, Fernando Carrillo Florez, Attorney General, and Nestor Martinez Neira, National Prosecutor
The Peace Community of San José de Apartadò in Colombia has recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary of no violent resistance, refusing to support any of the armed actors in the conflict. It is victim of forced displacements, disappearances and murders from years, especially at the hands of illegal paramilitary groups.
The petition objective is raising international awareness about the civil resistance of these farmers and call on the Colombian Authorities to immediately provide the Peace Community all the protective measures necessary to guarantee its safety and respect of Human Rights.
I served in the Peace Community of San José de Apartadò as Operazione Colomba volunteer in 2011 during three months and I am still very intrested in accompanying its members; the same organization has also started a petition to ensure the safety and security of international volunteers recently victims of intimidation:
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/protect-international.fb52?source=c.fb&r_by=18200919
Please, ask Colombian authorities to stop Human Rights violation against the Peace Community and to guarantee its rights to land, truth for the victims and protection.
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