This document describes AI’s concern about the increasing difficulties faced by those working in the defence of human rights in Colombia. Incidents of harassment of human rights workers have increased significantly in recent months AI is particularly disturbed by recent media reports which accuse independent human rights groups of links with guerrilla organizations. Cases cited here include: death threats to Dr Umana Mendoza; threats to lawyers of the Political Prisoners’ Solidarity Committee, Cali; threats to Dr Jorge Gomez Lizarazo, President of CREDHOS and killings of CREDHOS members; threats to human rights workers in Ocana, Norte de Santander; and the killing of an adviser to indigenous communities in Cauca department, Oscar Elias Lopez.
