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Open Letter to Colombian President-Elect Álvaro Uribe Vélez
20 June 2002
Mr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez
President-elect of Colombia
Dear Mr. Uribe:
As you make your first official visit to Canada as President-elect
of Colombia, we are writing to you on behalf of a broad cross section
of Canadians and Canadian institutions to express our profound concern
over the state of human rights in your country. We call on you to
take decisive measures to ensure an authentic and inclusive peace
process aimed at achieving a negotiated political settlement to
the armed conflict.
Throughout the past decade, a growing number of Canadian organizations
have developed close bonds of cooperation and friendship with Colombian
partners. We have provided accompaniment and support to churches,
human rights and peace groups, trade unions and other social organizations.
Time after time, we have been deeply moved by the courage and resilience
of so many women, men and children in your country who are committed
to building a nation in which peace with justice is a reality and
in which human rights are upheld and respected.
But there are many obstacles to the peace that Colombians desire
so much and there are real reasons for concern.
During the past decade, more than 40,000 Colombians have been killed
in political or socio-politically motivated violence. At present,
human rights groups in your country are documenting a daily average
of twenty killings or forced disappearances in socio-political violence.
This is double the number reported four years ago when President
Pastrana took office. Almost one hundred per cent of these crimes
go unpunished.
Canadians have watched with mounting horror and indignation as
thousands of your country's finest sons and daughters - grass-roots
organizers, trade unionists, social activists, indigenous leaders,
political figures, journalists, church and human rights workers,
to name but a few - have been murdered in cold blood, forcibly "disappeared"
or compelled to flee into exile following repeated death threats
or attempts against their lives. Those that survive and remain at
work or in their communities live under constant threat with no
respect for their rights.
The legitimate work of trade unionists is seriously hindered by
the systematic and widespread violation of fundamental workers'
rights. Indeed, Colombia has the dubious distinction of being the
most dangerous place in the world for a trade unionist according
to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).
Increasing numbers of Colombians have been forced to abandon their
homes and livelihood and it is estimated that more than two million
of them - the majority of these, women and children - are now internally
displaced people, many of them living in conditions of extreme poverty.
Disturbingly, successive administrations have refused to take decisive
action to address and bring an end to the abuses. Indeed, for more
than a decade, the United Nations - and other international bodies
such as the Organizations of American States (OAS) and the International
Labour Organization (ILO) - have formulated a series of clear and
precise recommendations aimed at improving the situation of human
and trade union rights in your country. Yet the vast majority of
these recommendations have gone unheeded.
In many cases your predecessors and their representatives abroad
have sought to excuse their inaction with the argument that the
situation is "complex" and that the abuses are being committed
by "dark forces" beyond their control. Successive administrations
have established - often with great fanfare - programmes and institutions
that give the appearance of political will to address the human
rights situation in the country. Yet, more often than not, these
have amounted to little more than public relations exercises.
We do not dispute that the Colombian situation is complex. The
presence of a long-standing armed conflict is an important source
of violence in your country. Guerrilla armies have been responsible
for serious violations of international humanitarian law, which
we deplore and to which they must be held to account. These have
included deliberate and arbitrary killings of civilians, kidnappings
and hostage-taking as well as indiscriminate and disproportionate
attacks on military targets - at times using gas cylinder explosives.
However, there is overwhelming evidence that the vast majority
of political killings and disappearances are committed by paramilitary
groups, often acting with the direct support or acquiescence of
the state security forces. For these abuses, the Colombian state
is accountable, for it remains the responsibility of the government
to ensure that at all times - whether at war or not - state agents
respect fundamental human rights and the rule of law.
Disturbingly, this year's report of the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights noted there was a "noticeable contrast between
the Government's tough discourse against paramilitary groups and
both its actions and failure to assess the extent of public servant's
ties to these groups."
The UN, among others, has documented many cases where the authorities
had been alerted about impending massacres and, having had the capacity
to respond, took no preventative measures. In her recent report
issued earlier this year, Ms. Hina Jilani, Special Representative
of the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders, stated that
the authorities "regularly receive reliable and detailed information
about the precise location of permanent paramilitary bases and checkpoints,
which are often within walking distance of army camps, yet fail
to act against them."
Mr. Uribe, as Colombia's next President, you have the capacity
to reverse this trend and give your fellow citizens a more hopeful
future by pursuing a policy founded on respect for the human rights
of every Colombian.
Still, like many others in the international community, we are
profoundly concerned by statements you have made in recent months
of the need to create a vigilante network of one million Colombians
to work with the security forces. Many fear, with just cause, that
this will lead to the increased involvement of the civilian population
in the conflict, thereby depriving it of the protection to which
it is due under international humanitarian law. The proposal not
only disregards the right of the civilian population not to be involved
in conflict situations but there is also the risk that the history
of the growth of paramilitarism in Colombia will be repeated and
that such structures will end up serving as an adjunct to the paramilitary.
We were likewise disturbed by proposals you have put forward to
introduce anti-terrorist legislation that would grant, among other
things, judicial police powers to the security forces. This goes
against the spirit of the recent ruling by the Supreme Court in
which it declared similar measures contained in the Law on Defence
and National Security to be unconstitutional. It also risks strengthening
the mechanisms that, so far, have ensured impunity by covering up
responsibility for human rights violations committed by both the
armed forces and paramilitary groups linked to them. We believe
there is no dichotomy between security and human rights and that
only by fully observing human rights can there be true security.
As Colombia's next President, we urge you to develop a coherent
and comprehensive human rights policy that respects UN, OAS and
ILO conventions and other instruments that Colombia has ratified.
Further, we call on you to fully implement the recommendations made
by these bodies; among them, the ILO recommendations calling for
support and assistance to trade unions and the longstanding recommendation
of the UN and OAS calling on the Colombian government to permanently
disband paramilitary groups by apprehending, trying and punishing
those who belong to, lead, organize, support or finance them. As
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, you will have the power
and responsibility to remove from active duty those members of the
state security forces who engage in human rights abuses or who continue
to support paramilitary groups through acts or omissions.
We note your recent statements, opening the possibility of renewed
peace talks. We encourage you to translate these statements into
a firm commitment to pursue a negotiated political settlement to
the armed conflict. Such a process must include the active participation
of the country's social movements, and be based on full respect
for human rights and international humanitarian law. We firmly believe
that a humanitarian agreement to protect the civilian population
should be at the centre of any negotiation.
Mr. Uribe, during the last few years, the Colombian government
has made vigorous efforts to attract Canadian trade and investment.
But you must know that a growing number of Canadian citizens are
raising serious questions about the ethics of allowing expanded
trade links to be fostered in a country with a government that allows
its own citizens to be killed with impunity and that severely restricts
the right to freedom of association, collective bargaining and a
free press.
Please be assured that we offer our continued support for every
effort to reach a firm and lasting peace based on justice and respect
for human rights, and that we will remain vigilant to the situation
in Colombia.
Sincerely,
Church and religious organizations (40)
1. Patricia Steenberg, Executive Director, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical
Justice Initiatives
2. Most Reverend Jean Gagnon, President, Social Affairs Commission,
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
3. Robert Letendre, Executive Director, Canadian Catholic Organization
for Development and Peace
4. Andrew Ignatieff, Executive Director, Primate's World Relief
and Development Fund, Anglican Church of Canada
5. Rev. Christopher M. Ferguson, Executive Minister, Justice, Global
and Ecumenical Relations Unit, United Church of Canada
6. Rev. Stephen Kendall, Principal Clerk, The Presbyterian Church
in Canada
7. Margaret Clare Ford and Carol Dixon, Clerks, Canadian Friends
Service Committee (Quakers)
8. Hector Poblete, Coordinator, Comité chrétien pour
les droits humains en Amérique latine
9. Rev. Robert Faris, Coordinator, Canadian Churches Forum for Global
Ministries
10. Rev. Dr. Stewart Gillan, Executive Director, Churches Council
on Theological Education in Canada
11. Dr. Douglas Pritchard, Canada Coordinator, Christian Peacemaker
Teams
12. Sister Gisèle Turcot, sbc, President, Canadian Religious
Conference
13. Sister Maria Bierer, IBVM, General Leader, Institute of the
Blessed Virgin Mary (Loretto Sisters), Toronto
14. Rev. Jack Lynch, S.F.M., Superior General, Scarboro Missions
15. Very Reverend David Nazar, S.J., Provincial Superior, Society
of Jesus, Upper Canada Province
16. Sister Delia Calis, Provincial Leader, School Sisters of Notre
Dame
17. Sister Anne-Marie Conn, rscj, Society of the Sacred Heart (Canada)
18. Sister Margaret Kane, CSJ, General Superior, Sisters of St.
Joseph of Hamilton
19. Sister Eva Janning, CPS, Provincial Superior, Missionary Sisters
of the Precious Blood in North America
20. Very Reverend Lorford A. Keasey, C.R, Provincial Superior, Congregation
of the Resurrection
21. Fr. Bob Mokry, o.f.m., Provincial Minister, Province of Christ
the King, Franciscans of Western Canada
22. Kenneth J. Decker, CSB, Acting Superior General, Congregation
of St. Basil
23. Sister Mary Louise Brink, Congregational Leader, Sisters of
Charity of Halifax, Nova Scotia
24. Michel Merizzi, M Afr, Provincial Superior, North American Province,
Missionaries of Africa
25. Pat Fitzpatrick, CSSp, Provincial Superior, Spiritans TransCanada
Province
26. Sister Marjorie Myles, Superior General, Grey Sisters of the
Immaculate Conception
27. Sheila M. Moss, SSA , Western Canada Province, The Sisters of
Saint Ann
28. Frances Brady, OLM, Congregational Leader, Our Lady's Missionaries
29. Sheila McKinley, OSU, General Secretary, Ursuline Religious
of Chatham
30. Josephine Badali, cnd Province Leader for Congregation of Notre
Dame, Visitation Province
31. Lorraine Caza, Congregation Leader, Congregation of Notre Dame,
Montreal
32. Joan Quinn, CSC - Provincial, Sisters of Holy Cross
33. Sister Lucy Germain, CSJ General Superior, Sisters of St. Joseph
of Pembroke
34. Ernie Regehr, Director, Project Ploughshares
35. Sister Helen Harding, Congregational Leader, Sisters of Mercy
of Newfoundland
36. Sister Sandra Shannon, General Assistant of Sisters of Providence
of St. Vincent de Paul, Kingston
37. Jean Bellefeuille, Responsable du Carrefour de Pastorale en
monde ouvrier (CPMO)
38. Denis Frotin, Pasteur, des Églises-Uni
39. Jean Greffard, communauté des capucins
40. Paula Kline, Director, Montreal City Mission
Trade union organizations (17)
41. Kenneth V. Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress
42. Buzz Hargrove, President, Canadian AutoWorkers Union
43. Lawrence McBrearty, National Director for Canada, United Steelworkers
of America
44. Judy Darcy, National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
45. Deborah Bourque, National President, Canadian Union of Postal
Workers
46. Brian Payne, President, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers
Union of Canada
47. Elaine Price, President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation
of Labour
48. Barbara Byers, President, Saskatchewan Federation of Labour
49. Jim Sinclair, President, BC Federation of Labour
50. Wayne Samuelson, President, Ontario Federation of Labour
51. Kathy McVean, President, Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association
52. Dave C. Haggard, President, Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers
of Canada
53. Fred Muzin, President, Hospital Employees' Union, BC Health
Services Division, CUPE
54. George Heyman, President, BC Government and Service Employees'
Union (BCGEU)
55. David Chudnovsky, President, BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF)
56. Barry O'Neill, President, CUPE BC
57. Roger Fortin, CSN, Trois-Rivières
Human Rights, Development and Other Non-Governmental Organizations
(23)
58. Gerry Barr, President, Canadian Council for International
Co-operation
59. Kathleen Mahoney, Interim President, Rights and Democracy
60. Francine Néméh, Présidente, Association
québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale
61. Neil Tilley, Chair, Atlantic Council for International Cooperation
/ Conseil atlantique pour la coopération internationale
62. Scott Harris, Executive Director, Alberta Council for Global
Cooperation
63. Karine Rainville, Coordinator, Ontario Council for International
Co-operation
64. Rhonda Spence, President, CoDevelopment Canada
65. Patricia Rebolledo, Executive Director, Horizons of Friendship
66. Rieky Stuart, Executive Director, Oxfam Canada
67. Zonibel Woods, Director of Government Relations, Action Canada
for Population and Development
68. David Blair, President, Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers
69. Nancy Bennett, Executive Director, Developing Countries Farm
Radio Network
70. Manuel Rozenthal, Canada Colombia Solidarity Campaign
71. Iliam Burbano, Coordinator, Canadian Colombian Association
72. Suzanne Loiselle, Director General, Entraide Missionnaire
73. Sister Theresa Nagle, SSND Social Justice Office
74. Jim Dahl, Director of Global Operations, Christian Children's
Fund of Canada
75. Dr. Kevin Chan, Co-Chair, Canadian Society for International
Health
76. Dr. Viviana Patroni, Director, Centre for Research on Latin
America and the Caribbean, York University
77. Joan Tuck, President of the Board of Directors, Social Justice
Committee
78. Grahame Russell, Co-Director, Rights Action
79. Rick Berube, President, Sombrilla
80. Mulugeta Abai, Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Victims
of Torture
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