FORCED ENTRY TO THE OFFICES OF THE PERMANENT PEACE ASSEMBLY FOR THE CIVIL SOCIETY.

Press Release

Bogotá, October 25, 2002

The organizations below denounces to the national and international public opinion, the forced entry into the offices of the PERMANENT PEACE ASSEMBLY FOR THE CIVIL SOCIETY. Today, between the hours of 4:45 and 6:30 a.m., in the city of Bogotá, around 40 members of the judicial police, the Dijin, the Security Department, the Das, and the Army, broke in, by forcing a window and at gun point intimidated the owner of the house, a 70 year old man. The locks were forced the computers and files were examined, as it appears in the records; there was no presence of the office of the Attorney General or the Attorney at Law.

This inspection goes against the freedom of association, intimidates the social organizations and warns of the government arbitrary forms and excesses, as well as its public forces, all because of the internal commotion.

It is publicly known that the Peace Assembly is strictly directed to help find a political solution, to defend human rights and for peace with a social justice, reasons why we are concerned that this type of authority abuses and excesses take place.  Therefore, we urge the President, the Minister of Defense and the Chiefs of the Public Forces for a precise explanation on these actions against peace and human rights organizations.

At the same time we also call upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and to the Diplomatic Corp, present in Colombia, so that they insist to the Colombian government to respected our activity and we ask for the necessary guaranties to be able to work.

Asamblea Permanente de la Sociedad Civil por la Paz
Redepaz
Indepaz
Comisión Colombiana de Juristas
Codhes
Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear Restrepo
Fundación Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Políticos
Unión Sindical Obrera
Minga
Fundación Maestros Itinerantes.
Punto de Vida
Asociación de Trabajo Interdisciplinario – ATI
http://www.porlapaz.org.co