EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AMR 23/28/95
Distr: UA/SC
UA 144/95 Fear for safety / Extrajudicial execution 20 June 1995
COLOMBIA Javier Alberto BARRIGA VERGEL, human rights lawyer
There are renewed fears for the safety of human rights defenders in Cúcuta
city, Norte de Santander Department, after the killing of lawyer Javier Alberto
Barriga Vergel.
At 8.30am on 16 June 1995 Javier Alberto Barriga left his house by car in the
Los Barrios area of Cúcuta. He was shot dead with two bullets to the head
by two unidentified armed men.
Javier Alberto Barriga was a member of the Corporación Colectivo de Abogados
José Alvear Restrepo (CCA), José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Collective, working
for the Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Políticos (CSPP), Committee of
Solidarity with Political Prisoners, in Cúcuta. The CSPP is working on numerous
important cases of human rights violations in which members of the police and
army are implicated, and its lawyers have repeatedly been subjected to death
threats, harassment and physical attack because of their work. The killing
of Javier Alberto Barriga has heightened fears that others involved with the
CCA and the CSPP may be similarly targeted.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Human rights lawyers and members of human rights organizations are increasingly
at risk in Colombia, despite presidential promises to ensure their safety.
On 9 September 1994, President Ernesto Samper Pizano declared in a speech that
his government "would seek to have constructive relations with human rights
organizations with the aim of suppressing human rights violations and would
do everything necessary to protect the lives and the integrity of their members"
("Buscará sostener con los organismos de derechos humanos relaciones
constructivas en procura de suprimir las violaciones de tales derechos y pondrá
de su parte cuanto sea necesario para proteger la vida y la integridad de sus
miembros").
Indeed, President Samper has repeatedly pledged his government's commitment
to protect human rights and tackle impunity. However, members of the Colombian
armed and security forces, together with their paramilitary allies, continue
to commit serious violations with virtual impunity. Trade unionists, popular
leaders, civic activists and human rights workers are amongst those frequently
targeted. Only in exceptional circumstances are perpetrators brought to
justice; the vast majority of members of the armed forces responsible for gross
human rights violations remain in active service.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail
letters either in Spanish or in your own language:
- expressing concern at the killing of human rights lawyer Javier Alberto Barriga
Vergel on 16 June 1995 in circumstances suggesting that he was extrajudicially
executed;
- calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into the killing, the
results of which should be made public and those responsible brought to justice;
- urging that, in line with President Samper's declared commitment to protect
the lives of human rights defenders, all possible measures be taken to protect
those working with the Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Políticos in Norte
Santander region;