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Archived Urgent Action
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June 2 marked the second anniversary of the forced disappearance of Kimy Pernia, a highly respected indigenous leader from Colombia. On June 2, 2001, Kimy was abducted at gunpoint in the northern Colombian town of Tierralta by three armed men believed to be members of a paramilitary group - groups that often count on the support of Colombia’s state security forces. Disturbingly, two years later and despite the huge national and international outcry, there has been no progress in locating Kimy or bringing the perpetrators of this crime to justice. |
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Introduction |
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Kimy Pernia is well known to many people in Canada. In November 1999, Kimy testified at parliamentary hearings conducted by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade (SCFAIT) to review legislation governing the Export Development Corporation (EDC). In his testimony, Kimy spoke of the devastating impact on his community of the Urra I hydroelectric dam, a mega-project to which the EDC contributed $25 million in financing.
Since the construction of the dam, fish in the Sinu River have disappeared and the Embera - robbed of their main source of protein - have suffered an increase in health problems due to malnutrition. The dam's reservoir has flooded Embera homes, land, crops and sacred sites. It has also brought an increase in mosquitoes, and along with them, an epidemic of dengue and malaria. The plight of the Embera is documented in the KAIROS produced film: “Colombia: The Hidden Story”. In 2001, Kimy played a key role once again in Canada as a keynote speaker on Indigenous Rights at the Alternative People's Summit, during the Free Trade Summit of the Americas in Quebec City.
Upon learning of Kimy’s disappearance, concerned Canadians
from across the country – among them more than 50 Canadian
Members of Parliament – wrote to the Colombian government
calling for immediate action to secure Kimy’s release. On
this, the second anniversary of Kimy’s disappearance, KAIROS’
supporters are encouraged to write again to the Colombian authorities
to let them know that we will not forget our brother, Kimy and that
we demand justice. A sample letter to the Colombian government can
be found on the KAIROS website.
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Recommended Action |
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Please use the sample letter below as a model to write to:
Señor President Alvaro Uribe Vélez
Presidente de la República
Palacio de Nariño
Carrera 8, No. 7-26
Bogotá, COLOMBIA
Fax: 011- (57 1) 342-0592 or 337-5890
Email: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
Send Copies to:
- Colombia’s Ambassador to Canada:
Ms. Fanny Kertzman:
360 Albert Street, Suite 1002,
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7
Fax: (613) 230-4416,
E-mail: embajador@embajadacolombia.ca, and
- Canada’s Ambassador to Colombia,
Mr. Jean-Marc Duval:
E-mail: jean-marc.duval@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
- Please also send copies of your actions to KAIROS (E-mail/Courriel à Bill Fairbairn)
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Sample Letter |
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Señor President Alvaro Uribe Vélez
Presidente de la República
Palacio de Nariño
Carrera 8, No. 7-26
Bogotá, COLOMBIA
Fax: 011- (57 1) 342-0592 or 337-5890
Email: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
Dear President Uribe:
I am writing to you to express my concern over the total lack of progress into the forced disappearance, two years ago, of the highly respected indigenous leader Mr. Kimy Pernia.
Kimy Pernia was forcibly disappeared in the town of Tierralta on June 2, 2001 by three armed men on motorcycles who took him away at gunpoint. Disturbingly, two years later, there has been no progress in locating Kimy or bringing the perpetrators of this crime to justice.
I anxiously await your response to the following questions:
- Were paramilitary forces of the Autodefensas Unidas de Córdoba and Urabá involved in abducting Kimy by motorcycle in Tierralta? Have you identified who they are?
- Is Kimy Pernia alive?
- What measures are you taking to clarify Kimy’s whereabouts and to bring to justice those responsible for his disappearance?
Yours sincerely,
(Your name and contact information)
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