Untitled

Letter of protest by JPIC

Señor
Andres Pastrana Arango
Presidente de la República
Cra 8 No 7-26
Santafé de Bogotá

Dear Mr. President,

We of the Franciscans Friars Minor wish to express our indignation and revulsion at the recent outrages committed against the civilian population and their forced exodus from 17 municipal areas: Sur du Bolivar, the Valle de Cimitarra in Bogotá, and Barrancaberme.

We are particularly worried by the lack of progress in the negotiation process, thus prolonging the inhuman and senseless suffering of so many Colombians.

How can it be possible for the national government to be involved in a negotiations process while at the same time paramilitary groups have free reign to terrorize the civilian population? We are particularly horrified to hear of the public torture, murder, beheading and dismembering of Dagoberto Maures Perez, Libardo Benitez, Donaldo Caceres Diaz and Arsecio Rivera, which took place in Puerto Tiquiso.

In the light of these latest atrocities, we make the following demands.

Protect the lives of the inhabitants of Tiquiso, Bolivar, as well as other areas affected by the violence,
Investigate the reported crimes and punish those responsible,
Verify whether the army had direct or indirect responsibility for the atrocities,
Establish the ownership of the civilian helicopter used in the paramilitary operation that took place in Tiquiso between the 10th and the 17th of August 1998,
Compensate the victims of the paramilitary incursion along with promoting a contingency humanitarian plan to respond to the immediate physical needs of the Tiquiso population.
May the God of life enlighten your hearts and minds to work towards authentic peace.
Sincerely,
Francisco O' Conaire, OFM
Vice-Director, JPIC Office
CC:
NESTOR HUMBERTO MARTINEZ Ministro del Interior
RODRIGO LLOREDA Ministro de la Defensa
JAIME BERNAL CUELLAR Procurador General de la Nación
ALFONSO GOMEZ MENDEZ Fiscal General de la Nación
JOSE FERNANDO CASTRO CAICEDO Defensor del Pueblo

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Created / Updated Friday, 11 September, 1998 at 07:27:25
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