urgent action: alteration & request

Last month, the CPT Colombia team met with the community leaders of Tiqusio to discuss our upcoming delegation. In conversation together they decided that there was a greater and immediate need for action in the community of San Pablo, a municipality about 2 hours north of Barrancabermeja on the Magdalena river. This quick alteration demonstrates the CPTs ability to listen and discern where to devote energies, in order to most effectively create awareness and a presence of peace.

San Pablo has suffered 13 assassinations this year, apparently at the hands of paramilitaries, including the murder of one of the foremost community leaders, Edgar Martinez Ruiz. CPT has asked San Pablo community leaders how the public can support their movement for protection of life and fundamental human rights. These local leaders request that the international community apply pressure by sending written appeals for an investigation into the death of Edgar Martinez Ruiz and others.  The leaders wish to receive these letters by email so they can personally deliver them to the authorities.

The paramilitary are creating an environment of intimidation and threats and the more international awareness we are able to raise and communicate, the more politically difficult it becomes for them to actually implement their threats. It is really important that you, all of our families, friends, communities and churches, are involved in this request. Please take action, reading this report and signing a letter demanding legal investigation, which we will personally deliver in our delegation to San Pablo.

Letters in English or Spanish should be directed to the Personería (Municipal Human Rights Representative) and the Fiscalía  (Municipal District Attorney) of San Pablo.  Below are sample letters in Spanish and English.  Please sign one of these letters, scan it (to include your signature), and email it as an attachment to the Colombia team at ecapcolombia@edatel.net.co. 

If you do not have access to a scanner, the next best option is to save the letter as PDF file with your address, attach it to an e-mail, and send it to the team.  You may also simply send an e-mail with your mailing address, if the other two actions are not an option. You are also welcome to write your own letter if you wish.  CPT will forward the letters to the San Pablo community leaders, who will deliver them.

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ENGLISH SAMPLE LETTER:

DATE
Personeria y Fiscalía Municipio de San Pablo

To Whom It May Concern:

We send these letters directed to you, the authorities of the local 
government, decrying the murder of Mr. Edgar Martinez Ruiz and the lack of
results from the official investigation into his death.  On April 24, 2009, 
Mr. Martinez Ruiz was killed in cold blood near San Pablo.  Mr. Martinez 
Ruiz was a community leader who participated in various human rights forums, 
calling the government to fiscal accountability in the municipality of San 
Pablo, Bolivar.
We strongly ask for follow-up to ensure an investigation into the murders 
and intimidation of local leaders such as Mr. Martinez Ruiz and others.

I am a citizen of_______________ and I am worried about the links between
the money my country sends to Colombia and the number of community leaders 
daily murdered with impunity.  Your attention to this matter will assure us 
that there is justice and respect for the rights of the most marginalized in 
Colombia.

Sincerely,
NAME
ADDRESS
COUNTRY

*********
SPANISH SAMPLE LETTER:

FECHA

Señores Personería y Fiscalía Municipio de San Pablo

Enviamos estas cartas dirigidas a ustedes las autoridades del gobierno 
local, reclamando sobre el asesinato de Edgar Martínez Ruiz y la falta de 
resultados de la investigación oficial de su muerte.  El 24 de Abril 2009 el 
Sr. Edgar Martínez Ruiz fue asesinado a sangre fría cerca de San Pablo.  El 
Sr. Martínez Ruiz era líder de la comunidad, participaba en diferentes 
espacios de derechos humanos y trabajaba en la exigencia de rendición de 
cuentas en el Municipio de San Pablo, Bolívar.
Exigimos que haya seguimiento para asegurar una investigación a los 
asesinatos e intimidación de líderes locales como Edgar Martínez Ruiz y 
otros.

Soy ciudadano de ____________    y estoy preocupado con el enlace entre el 
dinero que manda mi país hacia Colombia y el número de lideres comunitarios 
que son asesinados diariamente con impunidad. Su atención a este asunto nos 
asegura que haya justicia y respeto por los derechos de los más marginados 
en Colombia.

Sinceramente,

NOMBRE
DIRECCION

PAIS

with many hopes and prayers,

-Cory