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From: Your Name <you@example.com>
To: auribe@presidencia.gov.co emwas@colombiaemb.org
Subject: President Uribe's statements against peace movement
February 13, 2009
S.E. Alvaro Uribe Velez
Presidente de la Republica
Cra. 8 #7-26
Palacio de Narino
Bogota, Colombia
Dear President Uribe:
I write to express my deep concern about your recent remarks linking members of Colombia's peace movement to "an intellectual bloc of the FARC". These allegations are unfounded and irresponsible and put in danger the lives of those promoting a peaceful resolution to Colombia's internal armed conflict. Furthermore, your comments hinder the positive work carried out to win the release of hostages that are still being held by the FARC. I urge you to publicly retract these comments and offer your full support for all civil society led groups working towards peace, and to work with these groups to ensure all hostages are released.
The release of the 6 hostages this week was a great success and largely a result of Colombians for Peace's efforts to establish public communication with the FARC to urge them to release all hostages. Senator Piedad Cordoba also played a key role in this operation and has worked tirelessly to ensure its success.
These groups, especially Senator Cordoba, are in danger due to this work. Your comments linking these people to the left-wing guerrilla has greatly exacerbated this risk. Remarks by Colombian authorities accusing civil society groups of affiliation with the FARC have led to threats and attacks against legitimate non-violent civilian actors. Such was the case when your advisor, Jose Obdulio Gaviria, alleged that the organizers of the March 6 2008 protest were doing the FARC's work. These remarks were followed by a surge of attacks and threats against those involved in the protest. In order to prevent this from reoccurring, I urge you to retract your comments made on February 7 in Villavicencio (Meta).
As well as putting members of Colombians for Peace at risk, your comments also damage efforts by civil society groups to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict by essentially linking all such movements to the FARC. Instead of criticizing these efforts, your government should be engaging with all groups that are working towards peace and should make the release of the remaining hostages your government's top priority. This means working towards a humanitarian agreement and pursuing efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
I urge you to immediately take the following actions:
1. Publicly and before the national media retract your comments accusing members of Colombia's peace movement of belonging to an "intellectual bloc" of the FARC and offer your full support for these groups.
2. Provide adequate protective measures for Senator Piedad Cordoba and any other members of Colombians for Peace who are under threat.
3. Take the necessary steps to ensure progress in reaching a humanitarian agreement and establish conditions to allow dialogue around a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
p.s.
Your Personal Statement
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To: auribe@presidencia.gov.co emwas@colombiaemb.org
Subject: President Uribe's statements against peace movement
February 13, 2009
S.E. Alvaro Uribe Velez
Presidente de la Republica
Cra. 8 #7-26
Palacio de Narino
Bogota, Colombia
Dear President Uribe:
I write to express my deep concern about your recent remarks linking members of Colombia's peace movement to "an intellectual bloc of the FARC". These allegations are unfounded and irresponsible and put in danger the lives of those promoting a peaceful resolution to Colombia's internal armed conflict. Furthermore, your comments hinder the positive work carried out to win the release of hostages that are still being held by the FARC. I urge you to publicly retract these comments and offer your full support for all civil society led groups working towards peace, and to work with these groups to ensure all hostages are released.
The release of the 6 hostages this week was a great success and largely a result of Colombians for Peace's efforts to establish public communication with the FARC to urge them to release all hostages. Senator Piedad Cordoba also played a key role in this operation and has worked tirelessly to ensure its success.
These groups, especially Senator Cordoba, are in danger due to this work. Your comments linking these people to the left-wing guerrilla has greatly exacerbated this risk. Remarks by Colombian authorities accusing civil society groups of affiliation with the FARC have led to threats and attacks against legitimate non-violent civilian actors. Such was the case when your advisor, Jose Obdulio Gaviria, alleged that the organizers of the March 6 2008 protest were doing the FARC's work. These remarks were followed by a surge of attacks and threats against those involved in the protest. In order to prevent this from reoccurring, I urge you to retract your comments made on February 7 in Villavicencio (Meta).
As well as putting members of Colombians for Peace at risk, your comments also damage efforts by civil society groups to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict by essentially linking all such movements to the FARC. Instead of criticizing these efforts, your government should be engaging with all groups that are working towards peace and should make the release of the remaining hostages your government's top priority. This means working towards a humanitarian agreement and pursuing efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
I urge you to immediately take the following actions:
1. Publicly and before the national media retract your comments accusing members of Colombia's peace movement of belonging to an "intellectual bloc" of the FARC and offer your full support for these groups.
2. Provide adequate protective measures for Senator Piedad Cordoba and any other members of Colombians for Peace who are under threat.
3. Take the necessary steps to ensure progress in reaching a humanitarian agreement and establish conditions to allow dialogue around a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
p.s.
Your Personal Statement
--
Delivered by CitizenSpeak!
Report abuse to abuse@citizenspeak.org [1479]
