Colombia: Further information on fear for safety: Gabriel Adelfo Riano Prieto, university student and other members of student human rights committee
AI continues to be concerned for the safety of Gabriel Riano Prieto after receiving reports that members of his family and their neighbours have been intimidated in order to reveal Gabriel Riano's whereabouts. AI is calling for these allegations of harassment to be investigated and for all possible measures to be taken to protect Gabriel Riano and other members of the Comite de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos. AI is also calling for a full and impartial investigation into the killing of Humberto Pena Taylor on 13 June 1995.
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AMR 23/40/95
Distr: UA/SC
Further information (1) on UA 165/95 (AMR 23/33/95, 7 July 1995) Fear for Safety
COLOMBIAGabriel Adelfo Riaño Prieto, university student and other members of
student human rights committee
Amnesty International continues to be concerned for the safety of Gabriel Riaño
Prieto after receiving reports that members of his family and their neighbours
have been intimidated in order to reveal Gabriel Riaño's whereabouts.
According to information received, two unidentified men who claimed to be fellow
students of Gabriel Riaño at the Faculty of Law, visited the home of his relatives
in Bogotá on several occasions and questioned them and their neighbours
aggressively as to Gabriel Riaño's whereabouts. One family member received
a series of telephone calls made by men and women who claimed that Gabriel
Riaño had given them the telephone number; they asked to know where he lives
and the days and times he will be there or where he can be found, the people
he meets, and the places he frequents. The relative's number is that which
Gabriel Riaño had given on his university enrolment forms.
The continued telephone calls and intimidation suffered by members of Gabriel
Riaño's family and neighbours has heightened fears for Gabriel Riaño's safety
and underlines the urgency of the authorities taking action to identify those
responsible for the killing of Humberto Peña Taylor and threats against Gabriel
Riaño and other students and bringing those responsible to justice.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and
airmail letters either in Spanish or in your own language:
- expressing concern for the safety of Gabriel Adelfo Riaño Prieto and other
members of the Comité de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia por la Defensa
de los Derechos Humanos;
- urging that full and impartial investigations be undertaken into the
harassment faced by Gabriel Adelfo Riaño and his family, that the results be
made public and that those responsible be brought to justice;
- reiterating calls for a full and impartial investigation into the killing
of Humberto Peña Taylor on 13 June 1995, asking that the results be made public
and that those responsible be brought to justice;
- urging that all possible measures, deemed appropriate by Gabriel Adelfo Riaño
Prieto and other members of the Comité de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia
por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, be undertaken to protect their lives;
point out that such measures would be in line with governmental commitments
to guarantee the safety of human rights defenders.
APPEALS TO:
1) President of Colombia
Señor Presidente Ernesto Samper Pizano
Presidente de la República
Palacio de Nariño
Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia
Telegrams: President Samper Pizano, Bogotá, Colombia
Telexes: 44281 PALP CO
Faxes: + 57 1 286 7434 / 289 3377
Salutation:Excelentísimo Señor Presidente / Dear President Samper
2) Procurator General
2
Dr. Orlando Vásquez Velásquez
Procurador General de la Nación
Procuraduría General
Edificio Banco Ganadero
Carrera 5, No. 15-80
Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia
Telegrams: Procurador General Vasquez, Bogotá, Colombia
Faxes:+ 57 1 342 9723 (there may be taped office sounds, then engaged signal,
then fax tone) / 284 0472
Salutation:Señor Procurador de la Nación / Dear Dr. Vásquez
3) Minister of the Interior
Dr. Horacio Serpa Uribe
Ministro de Gobierno
Ministerio de Gobierno
Carrera 8a, No.8-09, Piso 7
Santafé de Bogotá, COLOMBIA
Telegrams: Ministro de Gobierno Serpa, Bogota, Colombia
Telexes:45406 MINGO CO
Faxes:+ 57 1 286 8025 / 286 0053 / 286 0485
Salutation:Señor Ministro / Dear Minister
4) Minister of Defence
Dr. Fernando Botero Zea
Ministro de Defensa Nacional
Ministerio de Defensa Nacional
Avenida Eldorado CAN - Carrera 52
Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia
Telegrams:Ministro de Defensa Botero, Bogota, Colombia
Telexes:42411 INPRE CO; 44561 CFAC CO
Faxes:+ 57 1 222 1874 / 288 4906 / 228 1874
Salutation: Señor Ministro / Dear Minister
COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
Lawyers' Association
Corporación Colectivo de Abogados
AA 44456
Santafé de Bogotá
Colombia
and to diplomatic representatives of Colombia accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International secretariat,
or your section office if sending appeals after 5 September 1995.