[558] in peace2
Re: Protest US Military Aid to Colombia
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Devon@massgreens.org)
Wed Feb 28 12:17:28 2001
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 12:08:10 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <200102281708.f1SH8AA03837@grant.org>
From: Devon@massgreens.org
To: dstrozzi@MIT.EDU
CC: mitai-announce@MIT.EDU, greens-announce@MIT.EDU, thistle@MIT.EDU,
peace-list@MIT.EDU
In-reply-to: <3A9D20A5.2B981B24@mit.edu> (message from David Strozzi on Wed,
28 Feb 2001 11:00:37 -0500)
Speaking of Columbia, let's raise awareness in our Congress
of death threats against peaceful international volunteers.
I just now got this two-week-old but still relevant alert.
Contact info for U.S. Senators at the end.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: PBI COLOMBIA EMERGENCY RESPONSE NETWORK ACTIVATION
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 15:43:49 -0800
From: pbiusa@igc.org
To: ERN members <pbiusa@igc.apc.org>
PBI Colombia Project *** EMERGENCY RESPONSE NETWORK *** PBI Colombia Project
RE: THREATS DIRECTED AT PBI BY THE COLOMBIAN PARAMILITARY GROUP "AUC"
ACTION REQUESTED: Call or fax your Senator's office in Washington DC
and ask that they contact the U.S. Embassy in Colombia.
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
On February 8th, 2001 at 7.45 a.m., two armed men dressed in
civilian clothing entered the Women's Community Center of the
Popular Women's Organization (OFP), located in the southeastern
area of the Colombian city of Barrancabermeja. At the time, a
member of PBI was present carrying out accompaniment work as
an international observer.
The two armed men approached the PBI volunteer and repeatedly
demanded that he hand over his ID and cellular telephone. Since
the men were not representatives of the legal authorities, the PBI
volunteer refused to show his ID. The men then made gestures that
they were armed, leaving the PBI volunteer with no option other
than to hand over his passport and mobile telephone. They also
confiscated the cellular telephone of Jackeline Rojas of the OFP.
The armed men headed towards the door and, pointing at the PBI
volunteer, threatened him by saying "from now on you are
considered a military target of the AUC." They then left the
Community Center.
We consider the fact that a member of PBI was declared a
"military target" to constitute a direct threat towards PBI as an
organization and towards its work of protection of threatened
human rights organizations. Since December 20th, 2000 the
"AUC" have made an increasing number of threats to various
organizations and, since January 27th, 2001, the threats have been
primarily directed towards the women of the OFP.
Since the end of December 2000, PBI has increased its presence
and accompaniment to the members of these organizations, a fact
which has been communicated in writing to the military authorities
and police forces at a local, regional and national level. PBI has
also expressed its concerns in meetings with the Colombian
Security Forces and with members of the Colombian government
and representatives of the diplomatic corps.
This latest threat was detailed in an article on page A8 of February
16th's New York Times. The article can be found at
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/16/world/16COLO.html
SUGGESTED ACTIONS
In order to guarantee the safety of PBI volunteers in the Magdalena
Medio region, and the effectiveness of the protection that PBI offers
to the human rights organizations in Barrancabermeja, in particular
to members of the OFP, CREDHOS, and ASFADDES, we ask that
you show your support by calling or faxing your Senator's office in
Washington DC and ask that they contact the U.S. Embassy in
Colombia.
U.S. Senate contact information is located at the bottom of this
message. We are encouraging ERN members to urge their
Senators to contact Mari Dieterich (Human Rights Officer at the
U.S. Embassy in Bogota: 011 571 315 2130) and request that the
Ambassador:
* make a public written statement urging the Colombian authorities
to take concrete action to protect the lives and safety of PBI
volunteers in Barrancabermeja and hold those responsible for these
recent crimes accountable;
* express concern for the safety of those members of CREDHOS,
ASFADDES and OFP who have received threats from the AUC.
IMPORTANT:
Once you have contacted these offices, please inform the PBI/USA
office of the actions that you have taken: <pbiusa@igc.org> (510) 663-2362.
We will be meeting with Senate offices next week, and it is important
to know which have been contacted by our ERN members.
[Devon says: now, two weeks later, this may be moot]
SUGGESTED TEXT
<date>
Dear Senator ____________:
I have been informed that a member of Peace Brigades
International has been declared a "military target" by paramilitaries
in Colombia. Armed men identifying themselves as members of
the "AUC" forced a member of PBI to hand over his identification
papers and cellular telephone. At the time, the PBI volunteer was
carrying out accompaniment work in the Women's Community
Center of the Popular Women's Organization (OFP).
These events occurred just days after a similar incident (on
January 27). On that date, a man who identified himself as a
member of the "AUC" was arrested by the National Police after
stealing a cellular telephone and threatening members of the OFP
in the presence of PBI volunteers. According to reports from various
social organizations, the man arrested was later released and he
was then seen in the same area, a fact which was confirmed by
the Public Prosecutor's office.
I am also aware that these occurrences coincide with the arrival in
the north- and southeastern neighborhoods of Barrancabermeja of
the "AUC," who in previous months have declared members of
these human rights organizations military targets.
I am extremely concerned about this situation given that the
security measures implemented by the Colombian government and
state security forces following a Security Council meeting presided
by President Andres Pastrana on January 10th have not had any
effect. Not only have the threats against human rights NGOs
continued, they have also increased against members of those
organizations accompanied by PBI, such as the Regional
Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CREDHOS), the
Popular Women's Organization (OFP), and the Association of
Families of the Detained-Disappeared (ASFADDES), as well as
directly against PBI.
These events have taken place against a background of major
conflict in the Magdalena Medio region, particularly in
Barrancabermeja, leading to more than 500 extrajudicial
executions by different armed groups in the year 2000 alone.
As one of your constituents, I urge you to contact Human Rights
Officer Mari Dieterich at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota (011 571 315
2130) and ask that the Ambassador:
* make a public written statement urging the Colombian authorities
to take concrete action to protect the lives and safety of PBI
volunteers in Barrancabermeja and hold those responsible for these
recent crimes accountable;
* express concern for the safety of those members of CREDHOS,
ASFADDES and OFP who have received threats from the AUC.
I will be closely following these actions and the results obtained.
Thank you very much for your attention in this matter.
Sincerely,
<your name>
Contact Information for US Senators
Alabama:
Sessions, Jeff (R - AL)
Phone: (202) 224-4124
FAX: (202) 224-3149
Staffer: John Little
Shelby, Richard (R - AL)
Phone: (202) 224-5744
Fax: (202) 224-3416
Staffer: Pascal Caputo
Alaska:
Stevens, Ted (R - AK)
Phone: (202) 224-3004
Murkowski, Frank (R - AK)
Phone: (202) 224-6665
Arizona:
McCain, John (R - AZ)
Phone: (202) 224-2235
Kyl, Jon (R - AZ)
Phone: (202) 224-4521
Arkansas:
Hutchinson, Tim (R - AR)
Phone: (202) 224-2353
FAX: (202) 228-3973
Staffer: Samuel Chang
Lincoln, Blanche (D - AR)
Phone: (202) 224-4843
FAX: (202) 228-1371
Staffer: Elaine Dalpiaz
California:
Feinstein, Dianne (D - CA)
Phone: (202) 224-3841
FAX: (202) 228-3954
Staffer: Michael Schaiffer
Boxer, Barbara (D - CA)
Phone: (202) 224-3553
FAX: (415) 956-6701
Staffer: Sean Moore
Colorado:
Campbell, Ben Nighthorse (R - CO)
Phone: (202) 224-5852
FAX: (202) 224-1933
Staffer : James Dean
Allard, Wayne (R - CO)
Phone: (202) 224-5941
FAX: (202) 224-6471
Staffer: Aubrey Harris
Connecticut:
Dodd, Christopher (D - CT)
Phone: (202) 224-2823
FAX: (202) 224-1083
Staffer: Gregory Watson
Lieberman, Joseph (D - CT)
Phone: (202) 224-4041
FAX: (202) 224-9750
Staffer: Debbie Forrest
Delaware:
Biden Jr, Joseph (D - DE)
Phone: (202) 224-5042
FAX: (202) 224-5042
Staffer: Heather Flynn
Carper, Thomas (D - DE)
Phone: (202) 224-2441
FAX: (202) 228-2190
Staffer: Cecily Cutbill
Florida:
Graham, Bob (D - FL)
Phone: (202) 224-3041
FAX: (202) 224-2237
Staffer: Tandy Barrett
Nelson, Bill (D - FL)
Phone: (202) 224-5274
FAX: (202) 228-2183
Staffer: Erin Hatch
Georgia:
Cleland, Max (D - GA)
Phone: (202) 224-3521
FAX: (202) 224-0072
Staffer: Simon Sargent
Miller, Zell (D - GA)
Phone: (202) 224-7272
FAX: (202) 228-2090
Staffer: Jeff DiSantis
Hawaii:
Inouye, Daniel (D - HI)
Phone: (202) 224-3934
FAX: (202) 224-6747
Staffer: Chrystin Alston-Eades
Akaka, Daniel (D - HI)
Phone: (202) 224-6361
FAX: (202) 224-2126
Staffer Ross Kawakami
Idaho:
Craig, Larry (R - ID)
Phone: (202) 224-2752
FAX: (202) 228-1067
Staffer: Lori Otto
Crapo, Mike (R - ID)
Phone: (202) 224-6142
FAX: (202) 22
Staffer: Ken Flantz
Illinois:
Durbin, Richard (D - IL)
Phone: (202) 224-2152
FAX: (202) 228-0400
Staffer: Natasha Blain
Fitzgerald, Peter (R - IL)
Phone: (202) 224-2854
FAX: (202) 228-1372
Staffer: Evelyn Fortier
Indiana:
Lugar, Richard (R - IN)
Phone: (202) 224-4814
FAX: (202) 228-0360
Staffer: Andy Semmel
Bayh, Evan (D - IN)
Phone: (202) 224-5623
FAX: (202) 228-1377
Staffer: Catherine Wojtasik
Iowa
Grassley, Chuck (R - IA)
Phone: (202) 224-3744
FAX: (202) 228-1684
Staffer: Kurt Kovarick
Harkin, Tom (D - IA)
Phone: (202) 224-3254
FAX: (202) 224-9369
Staffer: Bill Goold
Kansas:
Brownback, Sam (R - KS)
Phone: (202) 224-6521
FAX: (202) 228-1265
Staffer: Sharon Payte
Roberts, Pat (R - KS)
Phone: (202) 224-4774
FAX: (202) 224-3514
Staffer: Jim Beauchamp
Kentucky:
McConnell, Mitch (R - KY)
Phone: (202) 224-2541
FAX: (202) 228-2862
Staffer: Billy Piper
Bunning, Jim (R - KY)
Phone: (202) 224-4343
FAX: (202) 228-1373
Staffer: Mike Haywood
Louisiana:
Breaux, John (D - LA)
Phone: (202) 224-4623
FAX: (202) 228-2577
Staffer: Stephanie Leger
Landrieu, Mary (D - LA)
Phone: (202) 224-5824
FAX: (202) 224-9735
Staffer: Jason Matthews
Maine:
Collins, Susan (R - ME)
Phone: (202) 224-2523
FAX: (202) 224-2693
Staffer: Sam Patton
Snowe, Olympia (R - ME)
Phone: (202) 224-5344
FAX: (202) 224-1946
Staffer: Mark Adelman
Maryland:
Sarbanes, Paul (D - MD)
Phone: (202) 224-4524
FAX: (202) 224-1651
Staffer: Joanne Berry
Mikulski, Barbara (D - MD)
Phone: (202) 224-4654
FAX: (202) 224-888
Staffer: Colby Goodman
Massachusetts:
Kennedy, Edward (D - MA)
Phone: (202) 224-4543
FAX: (202) 224-2417
Staffer: Sharon Waxman
Kerry, John (D - MA)
Phone: (202) 224-2742
FAX: (202) 224-8525
Staffer: Celes Hughes
Michigan:
Levin, Carl (D - MI)
Phone: (202) 224-6221
FAX: (202) 224-1388
Staffer: Jeremy Hekeys
Stabenow, Debbie (D - MI)
Phone: (202) 224-4822
FAX: (202) 228-0325
Minnesota:
Wellstone, Paul (D - MN)
Phone: (202) 224-5641
FAX: (202) 224-8438
Staffer: Charlotte Oldham-Moore
Dayton, Mark (D - MN)
Phone: (202) 224-3244
FAX: (202) 228-2186
Staffer: Kerri Allen
Mississippi:
Cochran, Thad (R - MS)
Phone: (202) 224-5054
FAX: (202) 224-9450
Staffer: Rebecca Benn
Lott, Trent (R - MS)
Phone: (202) 224-6253
FAX: (202) 224-2262
Staffer: Chris Williams
Missouri:
Bond, Christopher (R - MO)
Phone: (202) 224-5721
FAX: (202) 224-8149
Staffer: Paul Day
Carnahan, Jean (D - MO)
Phone: (202) 224-6154
FAX: (202) 228-0043
Staffer: Sandy Fried
Montana:
Baucus, Max (D - MT)
Phone: (202) 224-2651
FAX: (202)
Staffer: Sarah Dudley
Burns, Conrad (R - MT)
Phone: (202) 224-2644
FAX: (202) 224-8594
Staffer: Myron Nordquist
Nebraska:
Hagel, Charles (R - NE)
Phone: (202) 224-4224
FAX: (202) 224-5213
Staffer: Theresa McNiel
Nelson, Ben (D - NE)
Phone: (202) 224-6551
FAX: (202) 228-0012
Staffer: Sheila Murphy
Nevada:
Reid, Harry (D - NV)
Phone: (202) 224-3542
FAX: (202) 224-7327
Staffer: Eddie Ayoob
Ensign, John (R - NV)
Phone: (202) 224-6244
FAX: (202) 228-2193
Staffer: John Lopez
New Hampshire:
Gregg, Judd (R - NH)
Phone: (202) 224-3324
FAX: (202) 224-4942
Staffer: Frank Barca
Smith, Bob (R - NH)
Phone: (202) 224-2841
FAX: (202) 224-1353
Staffer: Heather Pulkstenis
New Jersey:
Torricelli, Robert (D - NJ)
Phone: (202) 224-3224
FAX: (202) 224-8567
Staffer: John Bradshaw
Corzine, Jon (D - NJ)
Phone: (202) 224-4744
FAX: (202) 228-2197
Staffer: Simon Brandler
New Mexico:
Bingaman, Jeff (D - NM)
Phone: (202) 224-5521
FAX: (202) 228-4148
Staffer: Randy Soderquist
Domenici, Pete (R - NM)
Phone: (202) 224-6621
FAX: (202)
Staffer: Ed Hild
New York:
Schumer, Charles (D - NY)
Phone: (202) 224-6542
FAX: (202) 228-3027
Staffer: Ryan McConaghy
Clinton, Hillary (D - NY)
Phone: (202) 224-4451
FAX: (202) 228-0282
Staffer: Wendy Katz
North Carolina
Helms, Jesse (R - NC)
Phone: (202) 224-4651
FAX: (202) 224-0836
Staffer: Kirsten Madison
Edwards, John (D - NC)
Phone: (202) 224-3154
FAX: (202) 228-1374
Staffer: Will Austin
North Dakota:
Dorgan, Byron (D - ND)
Phone: (202) 224-2551
FAX: (202) 224-1193
Staffer: Stephanie Mohl
Conrad, Kent (D - ND)
Phone: (202) 224-2043
FAX: (202) 224-7776
Staffer: Bob Foust
Ohio:
DeWine, Mike (R - OH)
Phone: (202) 224-2315
FAX: (202) 224-6519
Staffer: Gina Marie Hatheway
Voinovich, George (R - OH)
Phone: (202) 224-3353
FAX: (202) 228-1382
Staffer: Rebecca Seidel
Oklahoma:
Nickles, Don (R - OK)
Phone: (202) 224-5754
FAX: (202) 224-6008
Staffer: Steve Moffitt
Inhofe, James (R - OK)
Phone: (202) 224-4721
FAX: (202) 228-0380
Staffer: Greg McCarthy
Oregon:
Smith, Gordon (R - OR)
Phone: (202) 224-3753
FAX: (202) 228-3997
Staffer: Martha Cagle
Wyden, Ron (D - OR)
Phone: (202) 224-5244
FAX: (202) 228-2717
Staffer: Jeff Michels
Pennsylvania:
Specter, Arlen (R - PA)
Phone: (202) 224-4254
FAX: (202) 228-1229
Staffer: Karin Rogers
Santorum, Rick (R - PA)
Phone: (202) 224-6324
FAX: (202) 228-0604
Staffer: Jay French
Rhode Island
Chafee, Lincoln (R - RI)
Phone: (202) 224-2921
FAX: (202) 22
Staffer: Mickey Forrest
Reed, Jack (D - RI)
Phone: (202) 224-4642
FAX: (202) 224-4680
Staffer: Liz King
South Carolina:
Thurmond, Strom (R - SC)
Phone: (202) 224-5972
FAX: (202) 224-1300
Staffer: John Miller
Hollings, Ernest (D - SC)
Phone: (202) 224-6121
FAX: (202) 224-4293
Staff: Steve Hartel
South Dakota:
Daschle, Thomas (D - SD)
Phone: (202) 224-2321
FAX: (202) 224-7895
Staffer: Randy DeValk
Johnson, Tim (D - SD)
Phone: (202) 224-5842
FAX: (202) 228-5765
Staffer: Ian Marquart
Tennessee:
Frist, William (R - TN)
Phone: (202) 224-3344
FAX: (202) 228-1264
Staffer: Michael Miller
Thompson, Fred (R - TN)
Phone: (202) 224-4944
FAX: (202) 228-3679
Staffer: Amy McKennis and Stephanie Henning
Texas:
Gramm, Phil (R - TX)
Phone: (202) 224-2934
FAX: (202) 228-2856
Staffer: Pete Olson
Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R - TX)
Phone: (202) 224-5922
FAX: (202) 224-0776
Staffer: Martin Cruz
Utah:
Hatch, Orrin (R - UT)
Phone: (202) 224-5251
FAX: (202) 224-6331
Staffer: Paul Matulic
Bennett, Robert (R - UT)
Phone: (202) 224-5444
FAX: (202) 228-1168
Staffer: Bill Triplett
Vermont:
Leahy, Patrick (D - VT)
Phone: (202) 224-4242
FAX:
Staffer: Tim Rieser
Jeffords, James (R - VT)
Phone: (202) 224-5141
FAX: (202) 228-0776
Staffer: Laurie Schultz Heim
Virginia:
Warner, John (R - VA)
Phone: (202) 224-2023
FAX: (202) 224-6295
Staffer: Meridith Moseley and Nancy Norton
Allen, George (R - VA)
Phone: (202) 224-4024
FAX: (202) 224-6295
Washington:
Murray, Patty (D - WA)
Phone: (202) 224-2621
FAX: (202) 224-0238
Staffer: Ben McMakin
Cantwell, Maria (D - WA)
Phone: (202) 224-3441
FAX: (202) 228-0514
West Virginia:
Byrd, Robert (D - WV)
Phone: (202) 224-3954
FAX: (202) 228-0002
Staffer: Jason Moreno
Rockefeller IV, John (D - WV)
Phone: (202) 224-6472
FAX: (202) 224-7665
Staffer: Drew Quinn (international) Barbara Pryor (domestic)
Wisconsin:
Feingold, Russell (D - WI)
Phone: (202) 224-5323
FAX: (202) 224-2725
Kohl, Herb (D - WI)
Phone: (202) 224-5653
FAX: (202) 224-9787
Staffer: Naomi Baum
Wyoming:
Thomas, Craig (R - WY)
Phone: (202) 224-6441
FAX: (202) 224-2354
Staffer: Rich Houghton
Enzi, Mike (R - WY)
Phone: (202) 224-3424
FAX: (202) 228-2193
Staffer: Randi Reid
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