About our logo

News

The latest news for the struggle for human rights for all in Colombia

Share with Friends

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Massacre at San Jose Peace Community

COLOMBIAN ARMY UNIT MURDERS PEACE COMMUNITY LEADER
Luis Eduardo Guerro
Luis Eduardo Guerro

On February 21, 2005 , the 11th Brigade of the Colombian Army, based in the state of Cordoba, massacred 7 people of the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado, among those one of its founders, LUIS EDUARDO GUERRA. Luis Eduardo, age 35, was killed with his 11-year old son, DEINER GUERRA ; his companion, BELLANIRA AREIZA- GUZMAN, 17 years old; a leader of the Mulatos settlement and its Peace Community, ALFONSO BOLIVAR TUBERQUIA -GRACIANO, age 30 ; Alfonso's companion, SANDRA MILENA MUNOZ-ROZO, 24 years old; and their children, SANTIAGO TUBERQUIA-MUNOZ, age 2, and NATALIA ANDREA TUBERQUIA-MUNOZ, age 6.

Luis Eduardo had gone to his farm near Mulatos, some 7 hours' walk from San Jose, on February 19 to harvest cocoa beans; he planned to return on February 21. But about 11 a.m. members of the 11th Brigade detained him and the others and threatened to take them away and kill them. A half brother of Luis Eduardo, who also was accompanying him, succeeded in running away from the soldiers, but Luis Eduardo, Bellamira and Deiner were taken to the next settlement of La Resbalosa to the farm of Alfonso Bolivar.

On February 22 Luis Eduardo's half brother went to the home of Alfonso Bolivar looking for Luis Eduardo and the others. He found blood and followed a trail to a grave near the house, where he was horrified to find the cut-up bodies of Luis Eduardo and the others.

A delegation of some 300 people is traveling to La Resbalosa to recover the bodies of Luis Eduardo and the 6 others who were the victims of this vile crime by the Colombian Army, which receives hundreds of millions of dollars each year from the US Government.

Luis Eduardo was a great leader of the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado. He visited Madison, Wisconsin the sister community of San Jose, about 4 years ago. He also went to speak at the School of the Americas Watch rally at the gates of Fort Benning. He had also traveled in Europe, describing the principles and development of the Peace Community.

We ask that you write to President Uribe and Vice-President Santos to urge that they investigate these horrendous crimes, asking that they sanction those responsible. President Uribe's government is under orders from the Inter-American Court to protect residents and leaders of the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado.

Please write your Senators and Representatives and express your outrage at our government's support for the Colombian Army, which kills its own peace-loving citizens. It is time to end U.S. support for the Colombian military !!!!

URGENTLY WRITE TO YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS


-PRESIDENTE DE LA REPÚBLICA
DR. ÁLVARO URIBE VÉLEZ
DIRECCIÓN ELECTRÓNICA: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
PALACIO DE NARIÑO
CARRERA 8 N° 7-26 TLF 5629300 FAX 5662071

-VICEPRESIDENCIA DE LA REPUBLICA
DR. FRANCISCO SANTOS
DIRECCIÓN ELECTRÓNICA: fsantos@presidencia.gov.co

DR. CARLOS FRANCO
DIRECTOR DEL PROGRAMA PRESIDENCIAL DE DERECHOS
HUMANOS Y DERECHO INTERNACIONAL HUMANITARIO
DIRECCIÓN ELECTRÓNICA: cefranco@presidencia.gov.co

 

 

© 2005 CSN
News | Action | Links | About CSN | Donate | Join | Chapters | Delegations | Contact CSN | Contact Webmaster