ASOCBAC Leader Fredy Jimenez Assassinated in Taraza

26.11.11

November 26, 2011

By ASOCBAC
Translated by IPO

REGARDING THE BREWING GENOCIDE AND EXTERMINATION OF OUR ASSOCIATION

The Campesino Association of Bajo Cauca, ASOCBAC, publicly denounces the assassination of Fredy Jimenez, the vice president of the Local Action Committee of Acacias in the municipality of Taraza. This crime was committed Wednesday, November 23, by a paramilitary group that operates in that area. At 5:00 in the afternoon, Fredy Jiminez was murdered only 500 meters from the school in the area known as La Viuda while traveling to the municipal capital of Taraza, on his way from Cañon de Iglesias.

This crime is the result of the State’s systematic and generalized persecution and criminalization of our Association. The Association has been falsely and illegally accused of guerrilla activity by numerous public officials, including Luis Alfredo Ramos, the Governor of Antioquia; Andres Julian Rendon, the Antioquia State Secretary; as well as Didier Adnres Upegui, the Municipal Secretary of Taraza. ASOCBAC has suffered these accusations due to our leadership in strikes and the struggle to protect the rights of peasant farmers in Bajo Cauca.

These false accusations are intended to motivate local paramilitaries to commit criminal acts against us. The resulting intimidation includes local leaders who have been followed, the release of a death list naming 27 leaders of ASOCBAC, and now the physical elimination of our comrades as in the case of this recent assassination.

The combined efforts of the state authorities and paramilitaries to exert complete control and repress popular organizations is nothing new, especially not in Taraza.

We hold the following responsible for the violation of human rights, genocide and extermination: The Colombian Government in charge of its local authorities, including Yoan Andres Restrepo, Mayor of Taraza; Didier Andres Upegui, Municipal Secretary; Andres Julian Rendon, Antioquia State Secretary; and Luis Alfredo Ramos, Governor of Antioquia.

We demand: That the Colombian Government comply with the agreement signed with ASOCBAC last October in Taraza, where they agreed to protect the population’s human rights and to not criminalize ASOCBAC; That the Colombian Government and its military and paramilitary forces cease all persecution, false accusations, criminalization, and extermination against ASOCBAC; That the Colombian Government guarantee the right of ASOCBAC to organize and that it respect the human rights, life, honor, and rights of the leaders and representatives of the Association.

We hold the Colombian Government, its military and police, the departmental government, and the municipal government of Taraza responsible for the physical safety of ASOCBAC’s members and leaders.

We call upon the national and international audience, and social and human rights organizations to join us in demanding that the Colombian State guarantee human rights and cease all persecution of ASOCBAC.

PRESIDENTE DE LA REPÚBLICA DE COLOMBIA.
fsantos@presidencia.gov.co
VICE PRESIDENCIA DE LA REPÚBLICA DE COLOMBIA.
ppdh@presidencia.gov.co
MINISTERIO DE INTERIOR Y DE JUSTICIA.
ministro@minjusticia.gov.co
DEFENSORIA DEL PUEBLO.
defensoria@defensoria.org.co
DR VOLMAR PEREZ DEFENSOR DEL PUEBLO COLOMBIA.
secretaria_privada@hotmail.com
PROCURADURIA GENERAL DE LA NACIÓN
quejas@procuraduria.gov.co

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