Threatening pamphlets against MOVICE

On the morning of 9 December 2014, a pamphlet containing death threats against a number of human rights defenders, including members of Movimiento de Victimas de Crimenes de Estado – MOVICE (Movement of Victims of State Crimes), was handed to a human rights defender at the Centro de Memoria Paz y Reconciliación (Centre for Memory Peace and Reconciliation) in the city of Bogotá. The pamphlet was signed by the Águilas Negras paramilitary group, and as well as members of MOVICE, it also targeted other human rights defenders, victims of state crimes, employees of the High Council for Victims in Bogotá and independent media outlets.

The pamphlet was entitled “Comunicado de comando superior - plan desalojo punpunpun” (High Command Statement - Eviction Plan bang bang bang), and those named include: Mr Alfonso Castillo, the director of the Asociación Nacional de Ayuda Solidaria- ANDAS (National Association of Solidarity Help); Mr Camilo Álvarez of Hijos e Hijas por la Memoria y contra la Impunidad (Sons and Daughters for the Preservation of Memory and Against Impunity); Ms Adriana Cuellar, a member of the legislative team of Alirio Uribe, member of the House of Representatives, and Ms Ana Jimena Bautista, member of the legislative team of Senator Iván Cepeda. The CAJAR human rights lawyers collective, a member organization of Movice, was also named.

This pamphlet is the latest in a series of threats made since September against human rights defenders, independent media outlets, victims of state crimes and public figures that have openly supported peace and the peace talks currently under way in Havana, Cuba. Many of these threats were also signed by the Águilas Negras. This latest pamphlet states that previous threats have not been taken seriously, those declared military targets have not left the city and that a partir de hoy no estamos jugando (from today we are not playing).

On 30 November and 1 December 2014, the Águilas Negras made death threats against a number of independent human rights focused news networks, amongst them Canal Capital and Telesur. On 23 October 2014, the Corporación Nuevo Arcoíris reported that the Águilas Negras also sent death threats to 99 people belonging to political, social, ethnic organisations as well as victims' groups. This was believed to have been a reiteration of the threats made against numerous human rights defenders in September 2014.

On 6 October 2014 MOVICE denounced a series of death threats made against members of the organisation. Previously, on 1 October, a pamphlet was distributed in Sucre in which a group identifying themselves as the “Rastrojos” threatened Ms Ingrid Vergara Chávez, Spokesperson for the Sucre state chapter of MOVICE, and a number of other individuals, giving them 72 hours to leave the department. It is believed that the threats were directed at persons who have been participating in the peace initiatives currently under way in Cuba. Members of MOVICE made a formal complaint to the police about the threats but, as of yet, there has been no official response.

On 8 September 2014 hundreds of recipients, including human rights organisations and trade unions, as well as international bodies such as the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights in Colombia, received a threatening email declaring 88 named human rights defenders as military objectives and stating that they would not be permitted to continue with their “cuento de la paz” (version of peace) and that they would pay with their lives as well as the lives of their families.

Since 2010, Front Line Defenders has issued numerous urgent appeals regarding violations perpetrated against human rights defenders in Colombia, including members of MOVICE. However, to date, those responsible for such crimes have not been brought to justice. The various threats that have been received since September 2014 have named many of the same people, have made reference to the peace process, and have each been released around key moments of participation and protest in support of the process.

Front Line Defenders is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the aforementioned human rights defenders and, given the fact that Colombia continues to record some of the highest levels of attacks on human rights defenders, including 30 killings in the first six months of this year, Front Line Defenders reiterates that the Government is responsible for ensuring immediate measures to protect those who have been threatened, regardless of budget issues within the Unidad Nacional de Protección (National Protection Unit).

Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Colombia to:

1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the death threats and other threats made against members of MOVICE with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

2. Promptly take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of members of MOVICE;

3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Colombia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.