DOCUMENT - COLOMBIA: THREATS MADE AGAINST INDIGENOUS DEFENDERS

UA: 115/14 Index: AMR 23/018/2014 Colombia Date: 9 May 2014

URGENT ACTION

Threats made against indigenous Defenders

Fifteen-year-old Génesis Giselle Gutiérrez Romero, a member of the Wayúu Indigenous Reservation of Zahíno, received a death threat on 5 May. She and her family are linked to a local human rights organization which campaigns on behalf of the Wayúu Indigenous communities and which has been the target of repeated paramilitary death threats. Their safety is at risk.

Génesis Gisselle Gutiérrez Romero, a 15-year-old member of the Wayúu Indigenous Reservation of Zahíno (Resguardo Indígena de Zahíno) in the municipality of Barrancas, department of La Guajira in north-eastern Colombia, received a telephone death threat on 5 May. An unidentified man told her: “Tell your family to take care of themselves and you, because we are going to kill you”, (Díle a tu familia que se cuide y a ti, porque te vamos a matar).

Génesis Gisselle is the daughter of Wayúu leader and human rights defender Jakeline Romero Epiayu. Both are linked to the non-governmental human rights organization Fuerza de Mujeres Wayúu. This organization has been active in campaigning for respect of the right of Wayúu Indigenous communities to free, prior and informed consent in the south of La Guajira in relation to large-scale economic projects, including coal mining, on their land. As a result of this work, members of Fuerza de Mujeres Wayúu have been the target of repeated paramilitary death threats. The threat came in the context of a visit to Europe of a Wayúu delegation, which included Jakeline Romero Epiayu, to raise issues related to the human rights situation faced by the Wayúu communities.

Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:

Expressing concern for the safety of Génesis Gisselle Gutiérrez Romero, her mother Jakeline Romero Epiayu and other members of her family, and members of Fuerza de Mujeres Wayúu;

Calling for a full and impartial investigation by the civilian justice system into the 5 May 2014 threat, for the results to be made public, for those responsible to be brought to justice and for authorities to take appropriate measures to guarantee the safety of those under threat;

Urging the authorities to take action against paramilitary forces and to break any links between them and the security forces, in line with repeated UN recommendations.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 20 JUNE 2014 TO:

�

President

Señor Juan Manuel Santos

Presidente de la República

Palacio de Nariño, Carrera 8 No.7-26 Bogotá, Colombia

Tel/Fax: +57 1 596 0631 (keep trying)

Salutation: Dear President Santos/

Excmo. Sr. Presidente Santos

Minister of Interior

Aurelio Iragorri Valencia

Calle 12B No 8-46, Primer Piso

Bogotá, Colombia

Fax: +57 1 283 9876

Email: mesadeentrada@mininterior.gov.co

Salutation: Dear Minister / Estimado Sr. Ministro

And copies to:

Human Rights Ombudsman

Jorge Armando Otálora

Defensoría del Pueblo

Calle 55 No. 10-32

Bogotá, Colombia

Fax: +57 1 314 7300 (when recorded

voice answers, dial ext 4000)

Salutation: Dear Human Rights Ombudsman/Estimado Sr. Defensor

�

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:

Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

�

URGENT ACTION

Threats made against indigenous Defenders

ADditional Information

All warring parties in Colombia’s long-running armed conflict have repeatedly failed to respect the civilian population’s right not to take part in the armed conflict and have been responsible for serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. Amnesty International has repeatedly called on both sides in the conflict – guerrilla groups and the security forces – to put an immediate and unconditional end to human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law.

The warring parties – the armed forces, either acting alone or in collusion with paramilitaries, and guerrilla forces – are responsible for serious human rights abuses against members of the Indigenous communities including threats and killings. In recent months there have also been several large-scale demonstrations by peasant farmers in different parts of the country. Government and State officials have insinuated that these are being led or infiltrated by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC).

Indigenous leaders campaigning for the respect of the human rights of Indigenous communities have repeatedly been the target of serious human rights abuses and violations including threats, killings and forced disappearance.

Names: Génesis Gisselle Gutiérrez Romero, Jakeline Romero Epiayu and Fuerzas de Mujeres Wayúu

Gender: f

Link from http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR23/018/2014/en/b75c1a44-f81f-4859-9488-3093aa8c8d99/amr230182014en.html