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From: Your Name <you@example.com>
To: procurador@procuraduria.gov.co,pattylondono@presidencia.gov.co,fsantos@presidencia.gov.co,cfranco@presidencia.gov.co,luzhelena.morales@fiscalia.gov.co
Subject: More than 10 people killed in new Awa Massacre
Your Personal Statement
August 28, 2009
Dear Vice-President Francisco Santos,
Carrera 8 No 7-57
Bogota-Colombia
We write to express our grave concern at the massacre of 12 Awa indigenous peoples, including four children on August 26, 2009 in the indigenous reserve Gran Rosario in Tumaco, Nariño. We call on the Colombian Government to immediately investigate this situation, prosecute those responsible and institute an effective protection program for the remaining members of this highly vulnerable community.
Of all the indigenous groups in Colombia, the Awa have been the most affected by the conflict this year, accounting for 38 of the 77 indigenous peoples killed so far in 2009. In February this year 17 Awa indigenous peoples were killed in two brutal massacres in Nariño believed to be committed by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC).
It is reported that on the morning of August 26 eight to ten armed people wearing balaclavas and military camouflage shot indiscriminately at the home of an Awa family. Amongst those killed was Tulia Garcia, who witnessed her husband's death on May 23, 2009, allegedly by the armed forces. Mrs. Garcia had repeatedly denounced her husband's killing, despite receiving numerous death threats.
This massacre is telling of the critical situation facing not only the Awa, but all indigenous communities in Colombia. The National Organization of Indigenous Persons (ONIC) announced last year that 32 indigenous ethnic groups are at risk of disappearing, with 18 smaller groups at risk of becoming physically and culturally extinct in the near future. The Constitutional Court found, in its decree number 004 of 2009, that the state response to the crisis facing Colombia's indigenous communities has been inadequate.
We urge you to address this critical situation by:
1. Working with the Awa traditional authorities and ONIC to put measures in place to effectively and immediately protect members of this highly vulnerable community.
2. Ensuring a prompt, impartial and comprehensive investigation into this massacre, as well as all other assassinations of the Awa community that have occurred this year. It is vital that those responsible for these attacks are held responsible.
3. Personally visiting the Awa community, with the Attorney-General and Inspector-General to discuss how the government can best protect them, as per ONIC's request.
4. Implementing all recommendations of the Colombian Constitutional Court decree 004 of 2009 on indigenous communities.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
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To: procurador@procuraduria.gov.co,pattylondono@presidencia.gov.co,fsantos@presidencia.gov.co,cfranco@presidencia.gov.co,luzhelena.morales@fiscalia.gov.co
Subject: More than 10 people killed in new Awa Massacre
Your Personal Statement
August 28, 2009
Dear Vice-President Francisco Santos,
Carrera 8 No 7-57
Bogota-Colombia
We write to express our grave concern at the massacre of 12 Awa indigenous peoples, including four children on August 26, 2009 in the indigenous reserve Gran Rosario in Tumaco, Nariño. We call on the Colombian Government to immediately investigate this situation, prosecute those responsible and institute an effective protection program for the remaining members of this highly vulnerable community.
Of all the indigenous groups in Colombia, the Awa have been the most affected by the conflict this year, accounting for 38 of the 77 indigenous peoples killed so far in 2009. In February this year 17 Awa indigenous peoples were killed in two brutal massacres in Nariño believed to be committed by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC).
It is reported that on the morning of August 26 eight to ten armed people wearing balaclavas and military camouflage shot indiscriminately at the home of an Awa family. Amongst those killed was Tulia Garcia, who witnessed her husband's death on May 23, 2009, allegedly by the armed forces. Mrs. Garcia had repeatedly denounced her husband's killing, despite receiving numerous death threats.
This massacre is telling of the critical situation facing not only the Awa, but all indigenous communities in Colombia. The National Organization of Indigenous Persons (ONIC) announced last year that 32 indigenous ethnic groups are at risk of disappearing, with 18 smaller groups at risk of becoming physically and culturally extinct in the near future. The Constitutional Court found, in its decree number 004 of 2009, that the state response to the crisis facing Colombia's indigenous communities has been inadequate.
We urge you to address this critical situation by:
1. Working with the Awa traditional authorities and ONIC to put measures in place to effectively and immediately protect members of this highly vulnerable community.
2. Ensuring a prompt, impartial and comprehensive investigation into this massacre, as well as all other assassinations of the Awa community that have occurred this year. It is vital that those responsible for these attacks are held responsible.
3. Personally visiting the Awa community, with the Attorney-General and Inspector-General to discuss how the government can best protect them, as per ONIC's request.
4. Implementing all recommendations of the Colombian Constitutional Court decree 004 of 2009 on indigenous communities.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
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