THREATS TO THE OFP IN BARRANCA- URGENT ACTION

May 13, 2002 - THE ADVOCACY COLLECTIVE "Jose Alvear Restrepo" hereby calls to the attention of both the National and International Human Rights organizations and the Local, Departmental and National authorities responsible for keeping law and order in the nation that death threats are increasing against the Organizacion Femenina Popular (Women's Organization of the People).

THE ADVOCACY COLLECTIVE "Jose Alvear Restrepo" hereby calls to the attention of both the National and International Human Rights organizations and the Local, Departmental and National authorities responsible for keeping law and order in the nation that death threats are increasing against the Organizacion Femenina Popular (Women’s Organization of the People).

RECENT EVENTS THAT COMPEL THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
The headquarters of the OFP has received information from highly credible sources that the AUC (United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia) have targeted for assassination the Coordinator General of the OFP, Yolanda Becerra.

This threat is especially serious in light of the assassination of Diofanol Sierra Vargas, a member and dance instructor for the OFP, just one month ago, on Monday 8 April 2002.

We respectfully request that you address the Colombian authorities to demand that the State:

1. Guarantee the life and personal safety of the members of the OFP and of the Coordinator General Yolanda Becerra in particular.

2. Eliminate the factors that generate acts of persecution, harassment and threats towards the OFP and show a clear commitment to dismantling the paramilitaries in the region of Magdalena Medio.

3. Investigate and penalize those responsible for the persecution and continuous threats to the members of the OFP and to Yolanda Becerra in particular.

4. Guarantee the OFP freedom to carry out the social work in the interest of building a Women’s Social Movement in which they have been engaged in for the past 30 years.

ADDRESSES:

- ANDRES PASTRANA ARANGO.
Presidente de la República de Colombia.
Carrera 8 n. 7-26 Palacio de Nariño, Bogotá.
Teléfono. 5629300 ext. 3550 (571 ) 284 33 00 Fax (571 )
286 74 34 - 286 6842 -284 21 86
E-mail: apastra@presidencia.gov.co

- LUIS EDUARDO CIFUENTES MUÑOZ
Defensor del Pueblo.
Calle 55 n. 10-32 Bogotá
Tel- 3147300
Fax: (571) 6400491
Email: secretaría_privada@hotmail.com

- ROMULO GONZALEZ. Ministro de Justicia.
Ministerio de Justicia.
Avenida Jiménez con Carrera Novena.
Tel: 5960500 Fax 2816384
Bogotá.

- GUSTAVO BELL LEMUS. Ministro de Defensa.
Ministerio de Defensa.
Avenida El Dorado Carrera 52
Centro Administrativo Nacional CAN.
Fax 2222893

- EDGARDO MAYA VILLAZÓN.
Procurador General de la Nación
Carrera 5 No. 15-80 Bogotá.
Tel-fax: (571) 342 97 23, 2817531

- CONSEJERÍA PRESIDENCIAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS
Calle 7 No 6-54 Piso 3
Bogotá, D.C.
Tele fax: (571) 3371351

- DOCTOR LUIS CAMILO OSORIO,
Fiscal General de la Nación,
Diagonal 22B No. 52-01 Bogotá.
Telefax (571) 5702000 ext. 2034.

- ARMANDO ESTRADA VILLA,
Ministro del Interior, carrera 8 No. 8-09.
Fax. (571) 5663214

OFICINA DEL ALTO COMISIONADO DE NACIONES UNIDAS EN COLOMBIA.
Fax. (571) 6292190- 6292405
e-mail: s

Translated by
Trisha Novak, USA