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Letter to President Uribe from 74 House members, February 12, 2004
Letter to President Alvaro Uribe from 74 bipartisan Members of the U.S. House of Representatives regarding support for human rights defenders and other members of civil society, February 12, 2004: February 12, 2004 The
Honorable Alvaro Uribe Velez Dear President Uribe: Please let us take this opportunity at the beginning of the New Year to extend our regards and best wishes for 2004. We write in acknowledgment of the difficult ongoing conflict in your country and in appreciation of your efforts to promote security and stability in Colombia. We also recognize the troubling human rights crisis that is the product of such a protracted and bloody conflict. It is in this context that we express our continuing support for the human rights and civil society groups who daily work to protect the innocent and to strengthen democracy in Colombia. The work of human rights defenders is critical in a democratic society that respects the rights of all people. This work is legitimate and necessary—not just in giving a voice to the victims of human rights violations, but also in supporting and strengthening democratic and judicial institutions. As you are well aware, human rights defenders in Colombia are at great risk because of their work, suffering intimidation, death threats, forced exile, disappearances and even murder. According to international human rights organizations, last year in Colombia, 13 human rights defenders were murdered or disappeared, while countless others lived under the threat of violence. Other members of civil society, such as trade unionists, teachers, journalists, church leaders, lawyers and local elected leaders, experience similar threats and attacks as a result of their work. We write in concern for the safety of these people, a concern heightened by the recent trend in the public debate to discredit their work. Mr. President, we trust that your government shares our belief in the importance of human rights work and our conviction that democratic governments allow for a plurality of viewpoints, including criticism. Therefore, we encourage you to take actions that will underscore the legitimacy of human rights defenders and other civil society actors and enable them to continue in safety. In particular, we encourage you to engage in meaningful dialogue with human rights groups so that they can voice their concerns and hear serious responses. We also encourage you to consider, commensurate with the March 2003 recommendation by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, the adoption of a Presidential Directive prohibiting the defamation by public officials of human rights groups, with sanctions for its violation, in order to clarify the government’s support for such work. Thank you for your serious consideration of these suggestions. We look forward to your response and to working with you throughout the coming year. Sincerely, The
Honorable James P. McGovern (Massachusetts) |
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