The latest newsletter from the South America Team at AIUK – Ellie May (Brazil), Richard Crosfield (Colombia), Graham Minter (Rest of South America):-
“We have 3 urgent actions, 2 from Colombia and another from Argentina. Authorities in both countries respond well to written actions, so please continue sending letters. They work! We have good news from Argentina and Venezuela. And those of you who can make it, please come to St Paul’s Cathedral to highlight the predicament of Peruvian human rights defender Máxima Acuña. We will be there from 8.30 to 12.00 on 11 April.
Colombia
The incidence of the killing of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) as well as paramilitary incursions into Humanitarian Zones and rural communities has increased in recent months. Paramilitary groups are occupying land that the FARC have withdrawn from to take control of cocaine and marijuana production, illegal mining and other economic activities.
Amnesty has issued 4 Urgent Actions on behalf of communities under threat since 3 February. Please continue to take action on behalf of the communities of the Jiguamiandó river basin, click here to download the UA. Military forces, whether they be from the Government or other contestants in the ongoing conflict, are supposed to be committed to respecting the limits of Humanitarian Zones. [Read more…]