Demand the protection of Colombian environmentalists
Well-known Colombian environmentalist, Guillermo Castaño Arcilla, has again received death threats from a paramilitary group and urgently needs your help.
update: This cyberaction is now closed
Thanks to your support 212 signatures were gathered in two days; these will be added to the signatures already gathered by Censat Agua Viva and sent to the Colombian President. Please check back for more information in a couple of days.
Guillermo is the president of the Permanent Committee of Human Rights in Risaraldo, Colombia and is a well-loved and hard working environmentalist. He is considered a friend and guide to the members of the Colombian environmental movement; he promotes local Agro-ecological Schools and has dedicated his whole life to defend life and nature.
Guillermo has received several threats against his life dating back to August 2002 and has previously been given protection by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights. Guillermo's colleagues, Mauricio Cubides and Diego Macias, were also included in these latest threats.
Censat Agua Viva/ Foe Colombia are gathering signatures to send to the President of Colombia, asking for the Government to step in and step up protection for Guillermo, Mauricio and Diego. Please add your name to the letter below today and ask all your friends and family to do the same. Signatures will be gathered until Friday 13:00 GMT -5 (Colombian time) and sent to the president in a letter from Censat Agua Viva.
A copy of the text that will be sent to the Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez:
Bogotá, July 1, 2008
Álvaro Uribe Vélez
Republic of Colombia
Mr. President:
The undersigned Colombian and
international environmentalist organizations and individuals express
our concern about the new death threats against well-known
environmentalist Guillermo Castaño Arcilla, president of the
Permanent Committee of Human Rights from Risaraldo, and his
colleagues Mauricio Cubides and Diego Macias.
On June 24th,
2008, Mr. Guillermo Castaño Arcilla, Mauricio Cubides and
Diego Macias received a message written by the paramilitary group
Águilas Negras, Eje Cafetero, in which the group gave them two
days to leave the city where they work (Calarcá, Quindío
Department) or they would be "put down".
Guillermo
Castaño Arcila is considered a guide in Colombian
environmentalism; he promotes Agro-ecological Schools in Valle del
Cauca and Eje Cafetero and has dedicated his whole life to defend
life and nature. This is not the first time he has been threatened:
in August 2002 and early 2004 he was threatened by anonymous
paramilitary groups. This is why, since August 27, 2004, he has been
protected with precautionary measures by the Inter-American
Commission of Human Rights.
As environmentalists, pacifists,
and defenders of life, we express our rejection of the death threats
against Guillermo Castaño Arcila, Mauricio Cubides and Diego
Macias and ask the national government to:
- Immediately adopt
measures to ensure the security and physical and psychological
integrity of environmentalist Guillermo Castaño Arcila and his
colleagues Mauricio Cubides and Diego Macias, their families and the
members of the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in
Risaralda and the rest of the country;
- Ensure an end to all kinds
of attacks and violence against environmentalists and defenders of
human rights in Colombia.
- Guarantee the respect for human rights and fundamental liberties in the entire country, according to the international regulation on human rights ratified by Colombia.
