Below is the letter sent by several of us to the Colombian government.
Clemencia Rodriguez
Associate Professor
Department of Communication
University of Oklahoma
610 Elm Ave Room 101
Norman OK 73019
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Phone 405 325 1570
Fax 405 325 7625
-----Original Message-----
From: Rodriguez, Clemencia
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 12:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Cc: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; Rodriguez, Clemencia; [log in to unmask] [[log in to unmask]]; Jeremias Tunubalá
Subject: Cease repressive and aggressive actions against the Guambiano People of Cauca
Sr. ALVARO URIBE,
President of Colombia.
Bogotá, Colombia.
Mr. President:
We are appalled at how authorities from your government are responding aggressively against the Guambiano indigenous People in the Silvia region, in the southern Colombian Cauca Province. The Guambiano People is peacefully claiming what is their legitimate right to their ancestral territories sanctioned by the ILO Convention 169, which has been ratified by your country and therefore is binding your government *besides the fact that it is a law in your country. We also reject the brutal acts of repression enacted by Colombian armed forces in favor of the Stella landowners and against the Guambiano People. These acts of repression have already caused several wounded among the indigenous Wan, a People well known for their peaceful and hardworking spirit.
We also have been informed about the life threats against the Guambiano People, made by the paramilitary groups. In this regard we remind of your obligation to protect the life of people belonging to that community, that were treated by the same paramilitary organizations that your government is having peace-talks with, and reiterate our strongest condemnation to the use of violence by the governmental authorities, the military, and the paramilitary.
On this basis, we ask you to please cease such repressive and aggressive actions against the Guambiano People of Cauca, and to facilitate the return of the lands they claim, as they are the legitimate owners .
Signed
Clemencia Rodriguez
University of Oklahoma
And
OURMedia
Norman OK USA
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Amalia Córdova
Latin American Indigenous Video Initiative
New York, USA/Chile
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Sergio Rodriguez
International Consultant
Montreal, Canada
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Mario A. Murillo
Pacifica Radio/WBAI FM
New York, USA
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