Armed intimidation against the accompaniment mission in Alto Ariari, El Castillo - Meta

30.07.08

Armed intimidation against the accompaniment mission in Alto Ariari, El Castillo – Meta
29.07.08
Corporación Reiniciar / Tuesday 29th July 2008

The organization Reiniciar alerts the national and international community and human rights defenders regarding the grave security situation currently facing the Accompaniment Mission in Alto Ariari that is in the municipality of El Castillo, Meta, for the presence and patrol of heavily armed men in the community of La Esmeralda a few minutes outside the main urban center of El Castillo.

According to information from the community, at 9.30 in the morning of the 29th July 2008, six heavily armed men in civilian clothing and traveling in a red vehicle with registration number GGZ026, arrived in the community of La Esmeralda and began to patrol the area in an intimidating fashion.

The Mission to Alto Ariari seeks to make a presence and bring accompaniment to the community of this region in front of the grave situation regarding public order and violation of human rights that has been committed by the military forces assigned to this region.

Composed of various national and international human rights organizations, the Mission seeks to raise awareness over the problems that put in risk the lives, integrity and tranquility of these communities in Alto Ariari.

The situation is worrying as the Accompaniment Mission seeks to interview the people of the region to investigate the current serious human rights situation, however, the presence of armed civilian men is an indication of the repression that could be unleashed if the people speak with the Mission.

Reiniciar protests strongly against these intimidating acts against the Accompaniment Mission and requests that the local, departmental and national authorities bring about the necessary security to the communities of the region as well as the members of the Mission.

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