URGENT ACTION: In Colombia, Police attack on May Day Demonstrators
Colombia Solidarity Campaign | 04.05.2004 12:51 | May Day 2004 | Social Struggles
Demonstrators in Cali turned out in record numbers on May 1st to oppose the privatisation of public services including education and health care and the criminalisation of social protest imposed by the neoliberal policies of President Alvaro Uribe Velez. However, on more than five occasions during what was an otherwise peaceful protest officers from the special police force ESMAD (Anti-disturbance Squadron) employed CS and tear gas, pepper spray and used excessive force against demonstrators. The worst of such attack occurred at 12am on Calle 5, Carrera 34 outside the Parque de las Banderas.
Cali. 01.05.04 11:00am
Participating Organisations: the "Forbidden to Forget" and "So That The University can Live in Colombia" Campaigns, The Human Rights Committee of the CUT, The Committee for Solidarity with Political Prisoners, Nomadsec and the Permanent Human Rights Committee Valle denounce before the National and International Community the violent attacks against demonstrators during the Commemoration of May Day demonstration by officers from the ESMAD (Anti-disturbance Squadron) in Santiago de Cali 2004.
Exercising their democratic right of dissent through public protest, demonstrators turned out in record numbers to oppose the privatisation of public services including education and health care and the criminalisation of social protest imposed by the neoliberal policies of President Alvaro Uribe Velez.
On more than five occasions during what was an otherwise peaceful protest officers from the special police force ESMAD (Anti-disturbance Squadron) employed CS and tear gas, pepper spray and used excessive force against demonstrators. The worst of such attack occurred at 12am on Calle 5, Carrera 34 outside the Parque de las Banderas.
In total seventeen people were injured, one, Duque Porras, was arbitrarily detained and one Andrés Guerrero disappeared according to information available at the time of this report. It is important to note that in flagrant violation national and international norms the ESMAD officers bore no marks of identification on their uniforms.
Injured:
Edward Portilla (Treasurer of the CUT - Valle) Contusion to the Arm.
Esteven GArcia (Activist in Sintraunicol) Injured with a fire arm.
Omar Alvarez (Asofamilias) Leg contusions.
Luis Fernando Rivera (Worker at the Alcantarillado of EMCALI) Body contusions
Javier Medina (Unemployed) contusions in the back.
William Escobar (Member of the Executive Committee CUT-Valle) Leg contusions and direct exposure to CS gas and pepper spray.
Harold Garcia (Director of the National Universidad of Palmira) Facial contusions.
Oscar Cardozo (Polo Democratico Independiente) Bruising to the back.
John Jairo Amaya (estudiante UNIVALLE) Body contusions.
Hector Fabio Osorio (Secretary of Sintrahospiclinicas) Taken to casualty, injuries as yet unknown.
Julián Elvira (Student at the University of VALLE) Body contusions.
Eladio Domínguez (Executive Committee CUT- Valle) Facial exposure to CS and pepper spray.
Rodrigo Escobar (Sintraemcali) Direct exposure to pepper spray.
Ever Cuadros (SUTEV) Hiematoma in a the leg.
Tacuma (Sintraemcali) Contusions in the leg.
Carlos Gonzalez (President of Sintraunicol Valle)
Liliana Mazuera (CDHP) Facial contusions.
Arbitrarily Detained:
Jaime Duque Porras (Worker in Telecom Services EMCALI EICE ESP and Sintraemcali Activist). At 12.15 as the march ended Jaime Duque left on foot from the Parque de las Banderas and went to have lunch with his wife, mother and children. At the restaurant they met a fiend, German Sandoval, who drove them to their home on Carerra 1a 9 No. 70-73, San Luis. As they arrived at the residence, four armed members of the Department of Administration of Security (D.A.S.) pulled up in a white van. After verbally and physically assaulting his wife, mother and children, and threatening them with firearms the DAS officers forced Mr. Porras into the van. He was then taken to the D.A.S. offices where he was arbitrarily detained and interrogated before finally being released in response to pressure from City and National human rights organisations.
Disappeared:
Andrés Guerrero (Unemployed)
We urgently demand:
A rapid and thorough investigation to bring to justice the material and intellectual authors of the human rights abuses against participants in the May Day demonstrations
That the Colombian Government and appropriate authorities provide sufficient guarantees for the respect of constitutional human rights such as the right to life, security, freedom of opinion, information, assembly, protest and the right to form trade unions.
That the Colombian Government explain the reasons for the ongoing and systematic persecution of trade union leaders in Colombia
Asociación Para la Investigación y Acción Social NOMADESC
Sindicato de Trabajadores de Las Empresas Municipales de Cali SINTRAEMCALI
Sindicato De Los Trabajadores Universitarios De Colombia SINTRAUNICOL
La Unión Sindical Obrera USO
Corporación Servicios Profesionales Comunitarios SEMBRAR
Central Unitaria De Los Trabajadores CUT - VALLE DEL CAUCA
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Minería en Colombia
Please send messages to
Presidencia de la República Dr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez,
Cra. 8 No..7-26, Palacio de Nariño, Santa fe de Bogotá. Fax: (+57 1) 566.20.71
E-mail:
auribe@presidencia.gov.co ;
[to send e-mail to Uribe login to
http://www.presidencia.gov.co and click on ESCRIBALE AL PRESIDENTE at the bottom of the page. Para enviar correo al Sr Presidente, dirmjase a la pagina Web: http://www.presidencia.gov.co y haga clic en ESCRIBALE AL PRESIDENTE ubicado en la parte inferior, al final de la pagina.]
Vicepresidencia de la República Dr. Francisco Santos
E-mail: fsantos@presidencia.gov.co
Ministerio de Defensa Nacional Dr. Jorge Alberto Uribe
El Dorado con Carrera. 52 CAN, Santa fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+57 1)222.18.74 E-mail: siden@mindefensa.gov.co, infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co, mdn@cable.net.co,
Procuraduría General de la Nación Dr. Edgardo José Maya Villazón
Carrera 5 No. 15-80 Santa Fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+57 1)342.97.23 E-mail: reygon@procuraduria.gov.co; anticorrupcion@presidencia.gov.co
Programa Presidencial de Derechos Humanos y de Derecho Internacional Humanitario. Dr. Carlos Franco
Calle 7 N° 5-54 TEL: (+571) 336.03.11 FAX: (+57 1) 337.46.67
E- mail: cefranco@presidencia.gov.co fibarra@presidencia.gov.co
Fiscalía General de la Nación Dr. Luis Camilo Osorio
Diagonal 22 B No.52-01 Santa fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+571) 570 20 00 E-mail: contacto@fiscalia.gov.co; denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co
Unidad de Derechos Humanos y de Derecho Internacional Humanitario
E - mail: elbsilva@fiscalia.gov.co
Defensoría del Pueblo Dr. Volmar Antonio Pérez Ortiz.
Calle 55 No. 10-32 Santa Fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+571) 640 04 91 E-mail: secretaria_privada@hotmail.com
Misión Permanente de Colombia ante las Naciones Unidas en Ginebra.
Chemin du Champ d'Anier 17-19, 1209 Ginebra.
FAX: (+4122)791.07.87; (+4122)798.45.55 E-mail mission.colombia@ties.itu.int
With copies to:
Asociación para la Investigación y Acción Social Nomadesc
Calle 18 No 6-54 Cali Valle del Cauca Colombia E-mail: Nomadesc@latinmail.com
Campaña "Prohibido Olvidar" E-mail dhprohibidolvidar@yahoo.com
And, in the UK, to Colombian Embassy (UK): mail@colombianembassy.co.uk
With a copy to the Colombia Solidarity Campaign at colombia_sc@hotmail.com
Participating Organisations: the "Forbidden to Forget" and "So That The University can Live in Colombia" Campaigns, The Human Rights Committee of the CUT, The Committee for Solidarity with Political Prisoners, Nomadsec and the Permanent Human Rights Committee Valle denounce before the National and International Community the violent attacks against demonstrators during the Commemoration of May Day demonstration by officers from the ESMAD (Anti-disturbance Squadron) in Santiago de Cali 2004.
Exercising their democratic right of dissent through public protest, demonstrators turned out in record numbers to oppose the privatisation of public services including education and health care and the criminalisation of social protest imposed by the neoliberal policies of President Alvaro Uribe Velez.
On more than five occasions during what was an otherwise peaceful protest officers from the special police force ESMAD (Anti-disturbance Squadron) employed CS and tear gas, pepper spray and used excessive force against demonstrators. The worst of such attack occurred at 12am on Calle 5, Carrera 34 outside the Parque de las Banderas.
In total seventeen people were injured, one, Duque Porras, was arbitrarily detained and one Andrés Guerrero disappeared according to information available at the time of this report. It is important to note that in flagrant violation national and international norms the ESMAD officers bore no marks of identification on their uniforms.
Injured:
Edward Portilla (Treasurer of the CUT - Valle) Contusion to the Arm.
Esteven GArcia (Activist in Sintraunicol) Injured with a fire arm.
Omar Alvarez (Asofamilias) Leg contusions.
Luis Fernando Rivera (Worker at the Alcantarillado of EMCALI) Body contusions
Javier Medina (Unemployed) contusions in the back.
William Escobar (Member of the Executive Committee CUT-Valle) Leg contusions and direct exposure to CS gas and pepper spray.
Harold Garcia (Director of the National Universidad of Palmira) Facial contusions.
Oscar Cardozo (Polo Democratico Independiente) Bruising to the back.
John Jairo Amaya (estudiante UNIVALLE) Body contusions.
Hector Fabio Osorio (Secretary of Sintrahospiclinicas) Taken to casualty, injuries as yet unknown.
Julián Elvira (Student at the University of VALLE) Body contusions.
Eladio Domínguez (Executive Committee CUT- Valle) Facial exposure to CS and pepper spray.
Rodrigo Escobar (Sintraemcali) Direct exposure to pepper spray.
Ever Cuadros (SUTEV) Hiematoma in a the leg.
Tacuma (Sintraemcali) Contusions in the leg.
Carlos Gonzalez (President of Sintraunicol Valle)
Liliana Mazuera (CDHP) Facial contusions.
Arbitrarily Detained:
Jaime Duque Porras (Worker in Telecom Services EMCALI EICE ESP and Sintraemcali Activist). At 12.15 as the march ended Jaime Duque left on foot from the Parque de las Banderas and went to have lunch with his wife, mother and children. At the restaurant they met a fiend, German Sandoval, who drove them to their home on Carerra 1a 9 No. 70-73, San Luis. As they arrived at the residence, four armed members of the Department of Administration of Security (D.A.S.) pulled up in a white van. After verbally and physically assaulting his wife, mother and children, and threatening them with firearms the DAS officers forced Mr. Porras into the van. He was then taken to the D.A.S. offices where he was arbitrarily detained and interrogated before finally being released in response to pressure from City and National human rights organisations.
Disappeared:
Andrés Guerrero (Unemployed)
We urgently demand:
A rapid and thorough investigation to bring to justice the material and intellectual authors of the human rights abuses against participants in the May Day demonstrations
That the Colombian Government and appropriate authorities provide sufficient guarantees for the respect of constitutional human rights such as the right to life, security, freedom of opinion, information, assembly, protest and the right to form trade unions.
That the Colombian Government explain the reasons for the ongoing and systematic persecution of trade union leaders in Colombia
Asociación Para la Investigación y Acción Social NOMADESC
Sindicato de Trabajadores de Las Empresas Municipales de Cali SINTRAEMCALI
Sindicato De Los Trabajadores Universitarios De Colombia SINTRAUNICOL
La Unión Sindical Obrera USO
Corporación Servicios Profesionales Comunitarios SEMBRAR
Central Unitaria De Los Trabajadores CUT - VALLE DEL CAUCA
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Minería en Colombia
Please send messages to
Presidencia de la República Dr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez,
Cra. 8 No..7-26, Palacio de Nariño, Santa fe de Bogotá. Fax: (+57 1) 566.20.71
E-mail:
auribe@presidencia.gov.co ; [to send e-mail to Uribe login to
http://www.presidencia.gov.co and click on ESCRIBALE AL PRESIDENTE at the bottom of the page. Para enviar correo al Sr Presidente, dirmjase a la pagina Web: http://www.presidencia.gov.co y haga clic en ESCRIBALE AL PRESIDENTE ubicado en la parte inferior, al final de la pagina.] Vicepresidencia de la República Dr. Francisco Santos
E-mail:
fsantos@presidencia.gov.co Ministerio de Defensa Nacional Dr. Jorge Alberto Uribe
El Dorado con Carrera. 52 CAN, Santa fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+57 1)222.18.74 E-mail:
siden@mindefensa.gov.co, infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co, mdn@cable.net.co, Procuraduría General de la Nación Dr. Edgardo José Maya Villazón
Carrera 5 No. 15-80 Santa Fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+57 1)342.97.23 E-mail:
reygon@procuraduria.gov.co; anticorrupcion@presidencia.gov.co Programa Presidencial de Derechos Humanos y de Derecho Internacional Humanitario. Dr. Carlos Franco
Calle 7 N° 5-54 TEL: (+571) 336.03.11 FAX: (+57 1) 337.46.67
E- mail:
cefranco@presidencia.gov.co fibarra@presidencia.gov.co Fiscalía General de la Nación Dr. Luis Camilo Osorio
Diagonal 22 B No.52-01 Santa fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+571) 570 20 00 E-mail:
contacto@fiscalia.gov.co; denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co Unidad de Derechos Humanos y de Derecho Internacional Humanitario
E - mail:
elbsilva@fiscalia.gov.co Defensoría del Pueblo Dr. Volmar Antonio Pérez Ortiz.
Calle 55 No. 10-32 Santa Fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+571) 640 04 91 E-mail:
secretaria_privada@hotmail.com Misión Permanente de Colombia ante las Naciones Unidas en Ginebra.
Chemin du Champ d'Anier 17-19, 1209 Ginebra.
FAX: (+4122)791.07.87; (+4122)798.45.55 E-mail
mission.colombia@ties.itu.int With copies to:
Asociación para la Investigación y Acción Social Nomadesc
Calle 18 No 6-54 Cali Valle del Cauca Colombia E-mail:
Nomadesc@latinmail.com Campaña "Prohibido Olvidar" E-mail
dhprohibidolvidar@yahoo.com And, in the UK, to Colombian Embassy (UK):
mail@colombianembassy.co.uk With a copy to the Colombia Solidarity Campaign at
colombia_sc@hotmail.com
Colombia Solidarity Campaign