Two leaders of the indigenous and campesino social movement in the southwest Colombian province of Cauca have been jailed.
José Vicente Otero Chate, a Nasa indigenous leader and former mayor of the municipality of Caldono, was detained on October 6 and Miguel Alberto Fernández Orozco, President of the United Workers’ Central (CUT) in Cauca and leader of the campesino (peasant farmer) organization CIMA was detained on November 1.
According to the Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca (ACIN), these arbitrary detentions are the latest in a series of attempts by the government to suppress Cauca’s unified social movement, which has repeatedly mobilized tens of thousands of people in defense of their communities, lands, and human rights, and against so-called "free trade" deals and paramilitary persecution.
Both men are well-known leaders of the peaceful social movement for peace and justice in Colombia.
Fernández has received a series of death threats in recent years because of his work. In 2004, he spent several months in exile in Massachusetts, as part of the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center protection program for threatened Colombian unionists. Since returning to Cauca, he has received renewed death threats against himself and his family on at least two occasions.
A press release from CIMA on November 2 said that the charges brought against Fernández appear to be that he invented the death threats against himself.
Otero, the former mayor of Caldono municipality, was instrumental in carrying out a popular consultation in Cauca this past March on the Andean Free Trade Agreement, currently under negotiation between the United States and Andean governments. Two months later, his home was raided by members of the Colombian Army, who planted weapons in his home, then accused him of terrorism. He was arrested on October 6.
A flood of messages sent quickly to Colombian and US authorities could make the difference in securing the release of Fernández and Otero.
Letters would let the people who seek to suppress Cauca’s social movement know that any future attacks will be met with a strong international response, which would discourage them from making such arrests, according to the CIMA press release.
All readers are encouraged to send messages demanding (1) the immediate release of and guarantees of due process for José Vicente Otero Chate and Miguel Alberto Fernández Orozco, and (2) national and state government respect and protection for all peaceful exercises of Cauca’s social movements’ rights to freedom of speech.
Participatory action by peaceful and responsible social movements is one of the greatest allies the Colombian government has in bringing about an end to the conflict in Colombia.
Your prompt response to this case is of great importance. Even a short, simple message helps. [View sample letter.]
Send letters to:
U.S. Ambassador to Colombia William Wood: AmbassadorB@state.gov
Human Rights Officer Laura Kirkpatrick: kirkpatricklh@state.gov
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Vélez: auribe@presidencia.gov.co, or dh@presidencia.gov.co, Fax (57) 1-566-2071
The Governor of Cauca: Juan José Chaux Mosquera, Fax (57) 2-824-3597
Please copy ("cc") the following addresses on the emails you send, so that Cauca’s social organizations will know what communications the government authorities are receiving: fundcima@yahoo.com; anucurcauca@hotmail.com; cric@emtel.net.co.
