Amnesty International – Greeting Card Campaign

Check out Amnesty’s website for their annual greeting card campaign.

This year my card is going to the peace community of Colombia

The community was created in March 1997 when people living in villages in the municipality of Apartadó, north-western Colombia, pledged not to be drawn into the conflict which has pitted the security forces and paramilitaries against guerrilla groups for more than 40 years. Their stance has met with suspicion and hostility from both sides.

Since then 170 members of the Peace Community have been killed or ‘disappeared’, while others have been threatened or sexually assaulted. Despite repeated orders from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights,  the Colombian authorities have failed to take effective action to protect the community, falling short of their obligations under international law.

Download a case sheet for the Peace Community (PDF)

Update: 27 November 2009

On 24 September, the laptop and a USB memory stick belonging to Eduar Lanchero, who is a member of the Peace Community’s human rights commission, were stolen from his house. No other valuable items that where in the house at the time were stolen.

On the morning of 11 October, Eduar Lanchero received a death threat from paramilitaries. Eduar has been followed and threatened repeatedly. He has reportedly been followed by members of Colombia´s Department of Administrative Security (DAS).

During the past months members of the security forces have continued to accuse the members of the community of being guerrilla members. Such accusations may lead members of paramilitary or security forces to justify attacks and threats against the community.

Please continue to take action in support of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó.