Call # 274 (7 October 2004 - 1 December 2004)

"We wish to demonstrate our disagreement with the ’democratic security’ policy that is intended to involve us in the armed conflict and that is affecting the Colombian people as a whole. We are opposed to a policy that has allowed the massacre of trade unionists in Arauca, the illegal detention of our Mayor, and massacres of locals in the Sierra Nevada, at Riosucion, Betoyes, Bahia Portete, on the Panama border, at Corinto, etc." This is the introduction to the declaration made at a gathering of 60,000 Colombian peasants and Indians in Arauca province, one of the most dangerous areas in the country. Colombia has the most internal refugees in the world, the majority of whom are peasants who have fled from their land after persecution by various armed militia. The number of exiles is also very high. In 2003 alone, close to 10,000 people fled to neighbouring countries, mainly Ecuador and Venezuela. Yet even this exile does not systematically spare leaders from repression, as the emblematic case of Francisco Cortes shows.

Francisco Cortes, known as Pacho, is a Colombian citizen and human rights activist who has been in jail in Bolivia for the past 18 months. He was arrested on 10 April 2003 in El Alto, a poor neighbourhood in the capital city La Paz. Today he is in jail because of his strong commitment to defending peasant communities and indigenous peoples’ rights.

Francisco Cortes’ involvement in rural movements dates back to 1983 when he was one of the leaders of the ANUC-UR (association of users of the countryside) in Arauca province (east of Colombia). In 1987 he was elected to the national congress of the ANUC-UR and became a member of the national executive committee.

As a leader of this peasant organization, Francisco Cortes participated in many international initiatives aimed at finding a political solution to the conflict racking Colombia and many other Latin American countries. Because of these activities he was constantly in danger.

In 1989 an attempt was made on his life. The Colombian army bombed his farm, forcing him to flee with his wife and four children. They went to Bogota where he was repeatedly harassed by paramilitary groups, so that he had to keep moving. From 1997, because of his position as a member of the national coordinating committee of the ANUC-UR, he received more and more death threats. In May 1999 he finally benefited from the programme set up by the Colombian government to protect the leaders of the movement.

EXILE, FOR SAFETY

Yet the threats to his life became so menacing that in early 2003 Francisco Cortes took the decision to go into exile in Bolivia with his family. He was familiar with the country since he had worked with peasant leaders on the Via campesina meeting(1). He knew he would find accommodation, work and support to start a new life, without interrupting his political activities. However, on 10 April 2003 Francisco Cortes and the Bolivian peasant leaders with whom he was staying were arrested after an exceptional deployment of police and journalists, invited by the United States embassy. The press and the media presented them as dangerous terrorists. They were soon transferred to a high security jail and isolated from the other prisoners. Francisco Cortes’ detention is a very serious precedent in the application of a policy of criminalization of this civil rights movement, imposed by the US government’s so-called anti-terrorist measures. A total of 45 Bolivian peasant leaders have been charged since then. Although Francisco Cortes was recently moved to another jail (see attached), his conditions of detention have seriously harmed his health. He has already lost over 12kg, has gastric and kidney problems, and suffers from migraines and blurred vision.

INTERNATIONAL PEASANT SOLIDARITY

From 7 to 10 June 2004, an international farmers’ mission for Justice and Human Rights visited Bolivia. It consisted of José Bové (the spokesperson of Via campesina), Rafael Alegria (general secretary of Via campesina), Jean-Marc Desfilhes (Confédération paysanne), Piedad Cordoba (Senator, Colombia), Frei Sergio Gorjeen (PT member of parliament, Brazil), Gloria Flores (Colombian human rights activist) and Belen Torres (representative or the Colombian peasant organization ANUC-UR). The purpose of this mission was to get the government to put an end to repression of peasant movements and their leaders. The idea was also to put a stop to the policy, strongly influenced by the US, that is being implemented from Mexico to Patagonia.

In this context Francisco Cortes’ release would be a positive sign for social, economic and cultural rights throughout the region. This mobilization is therefore important after 18 months of imprisonment.

1. Via Campesina is an international movement that coordinates organizations of small farmers, rural women, and native communities in Asia, America, Europe and Africa. It is independent of any other political, economic or religious organization. Via Campesina has seven branches: Europe, North-east and South-east Asia, South Asia, North America, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. In France the Via Campesina representative is the Confédération Paysanne

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The San Pedro jail at the heart of La Paz

The San Pedro jail represents the liberal way of thinking in the prison world. Inmates are the owners of their own cells that they are allowed to improve if they can afford to do so. The poor sleep outside in the courtyard, at an altitude of 3,800 metres, while rich prisoners have duplexes built. The guards only control people coming in or leaving the jail, and receive a fee. Security inside is the prisoners’ problem.

Approximately 200 children live in this place with their fathers. They receive no schooling and live mostly by their wits.

As soon as he arrived at San Pedro, Pacho Cortes joined the various committees that manage daily life in the jail to improve the inmates’ lives.

CALL IN LIAISON WITH :

Via campesina : www.viacampesina.org

Campagne Pacho Cortes

Association "Dos Mundos Images"

10 rue Victor Letalle

75020 Paris

This campaign is collecting donations to cover the expenses of Pacho Cortes, of his fellow inmates (to buy food, toiletries, etc.), to support their family and to finance their defence.

What to do ?

By letter: copy or download the standard letter below by clicking here.

Don’t forget to date and sign your letter and to add your name and address.

Reaction time: As soon as you receive this call, or until december 2004.

LETTER :

Sr Don Carlos MESA

Presidente de la República de Bolivia

Palacio Quemado

La Paz

Bolivia

el / /2004

Señor Presidente,

Por medio de la Red Solidaridad - Francia (Réseau-Solidarité, 10 quai de Richemont, 35000 RENNES - France) me enteré que el próximo 10 de octubre, se cumplen 18 meses de detención injusta del dirigente campesino y defensor de derechos humanos colombiano Francisco CORTES AGUILAR, quien fué detenido de manera ilegal el 10 de abril de 2003 en la ciudad de La Paz junto con dirigentes sociales bolivianos.

Conociendo las leyes que rigen el procedimiento de la justicia boliviana, el señor Francisco CORTES AGUILAR cumple 18 meses de detención preventiva sin que haya sido llamado a jucio lo que le confiere el derecho de obtener su libertad por vencimiento de los términos jurídicos contemplados en el codigo de procedimiento penal de Bolivia.

Nos dirigimos a Ustedes para solicitar:

  el cumplimiento estricto de la ley concediéndo la libertad inmediata a Francisco CORTES AGUILAR ;

  la garantia de un proceso transparente e indepediente de intereses políticos nacionales o internacionales ;

  la revisión y superación de las irregularidades que la defensa del detenido han podido demostrar ;

  la suspensión de procesos penales vinculados a este caso sobre dirigentes sociales bolivianos como Carmelo PEÑARANDA, Claudio RAMIRES, Leonida ZURITA entre otros.

Atentamente,

TRANSLATION

Dear Sir,

I have been informed by Réseau-Solidarité (address) that on 10 October 2004, Francisco Cortes Aguilar will have been in detention without trial for 18 months. In terms of the Bolivian penal code, he is therefore entitled to be released.

In this respect I urge you to:

  ensure that the law is strictly applied, so that Francisco Cortes Aguilar is immediately released

  guarantee a transparent trial, independent of all national and international political interests

  investigate and recognize the irregularities that the detainee’s lawyer has identified

  obtain the suspension of legal proceedings, related to this case, against Bolivian union leaders, including Carmelo Peñaranda, Claudio Ramires, and Leonida Zurita.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours faithfully,