German Cleric Detained by National Army

31.07.06

PUBLIC DENOUNCEMENT 11

The Permanent Committee for Human Rights Defense DENOUNCES the harassment and detention of the German cleric ANSGAR FALK on behalf of the Colombian National Army’s 49th Battalion Heroes of Tarazá with presence in the town of Arauquita, in the municipality of the same name (Department of Arauca, eastern Colombia, on Venezuelan border) under the command of Major MIGUEL VÁSQUEZ.

The cleric ANSGAR FALK was in the region on a solidarity and accompaniment mission with the Campesino Association of Arauca (Asociación Campesina de Arauca – ACA) headed toward Arauquita on Thursday, July 27th at the checkpoint of the mentioned battalion at 9:30 a.m., when he was detained, subject to an intensive interrogation, his identification photographed, and all of the telephone numbers of his personal agenda registered. The justification that the army gave regarding their arbitrary action was that it was for “security measures and to protect him” granting him liberty again at approximately 2:00 p.m.

We demand respect and guarantees for the international visits to the region to learn about the facts of the difficult situation of violation of human rights suffered by wide sectors of the Araucan population, which is victim of exaggerated application of the “democratic security”.

Arauca, July 31, 2006

The Permanent Committee for Human Rights Defense: Chapter Arauca

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