The Central Workers’ Union of Colombia (CUT) denounces before the national and international community the assassination of four educators affiliated with the Teachers’ Association of Cordoba (ADEMACOR).
On January 28, 2010, Overto Beltran Narvaez was assassinated. Narvaez worked in the Julio Cesar Miranda Educational Institute in the Municipality of San Antero. The professor was intercepted and made to get off of the motorbike he was riding as a passenger only 800 meters from the school where he worked. He was then riddled with bullets by hit men.
On February 3, 2010, Rigoberto Polo Contreras, licensed in child education, was assassinated at 6:45 a.m. near the educational institution of El Provenir, located in the urban center of the Municipality of Tuchin. The victim was traveling as a passenger on a motorbike taxi when two other motorbikes caught up to him and ordered Contreras to get off of his bike. His murderers then riddled him with bullets on the side of the road.
On April 21, 2010, in the sub-region of the Manso river, a rural zone of the Municipality of Tierralta in the Department of Cordoba, the lifeless body of teacher Elkin Eduardo Gonzalez, who had been missing for two days, was found in a solitary place with various bullet holes.
On April 25, 2010, Benito Diaz Alvarez was found in his home in the urban center of the Municipality of San Bernardo del Viento with his throat slit.
The National Executive Committee of CUT expresses its most heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, companions and students of our lost teachers that always extolled social justice and the fight for collective good.
At the same time, we call to national and international human rights organizations, and in general to the entire union movement to reclaim respect for life and justice in the wake of these heinous crimes.
We demand guarantees from the National Government protecting the exercise of union activities and we demand that competent authorities investigate these abominable acts.
Tarsicio Mora Godoy,
President
Domingo Tovar Arrieta,
Secretary General
Luis Alberto Vanegas Z.,
Director of the Department of Human Rights and Solidarity
The Colombia Support Network asks our members and subscribers to please send messages to the email addresses listed below, demanding an immediate and complete investigation into these heinous crimes, with the hopes of bringing the murderers and those who gave the orders to justice.
Please send the text below to the following people:
Dear ______,
On January 28, Professor Overto Beltran Narvaez was riddled with bullets 800 meters from the school where he taught.
On Feburary 3, Rigoberto Polo Contreras, licensed in child education, was riddled with bullets on the side of the road at 6:45 a.m. near the school where he taught.
On April 21, teacher Elkin Eduardo Gonzalez’s lifeless body was found with various bullet holes. Gonzales had been missing for two days
On April 25, Benito Diaz Alvarez was found with his throat was slit in his home.
I am writing to demand an immediate and complete investigation into these heinous crimes, with the hopes of bringing the murderers and those who gave the orders to justice.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
PLEASE ALSO WRITE TO THE FOLLOWING US OFFICIALS:
Human Rights Director US Embassy Colombia: Carolyn Cooley: CooleyCN@state.gov <mailto:CooleyCN@state.gov>
Senior Colombia Desk Officer: Terry Steers-Gonzalez: steers-gonzalezt@state.gov <mailto:steers-gonzalezt@state.gov>
Human Rights Colombia Desk Officer: Susan Sanford: sanfordsm@state.gov <mailto:sanfordsm@state.gov>
AND PLEASE WRITE TO THE FOLLOWING COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS:
Ambassador: Carolina Barco: emwas@colombiaemb.org <mailto:emwas@colombiaemb.org>
Third Secretary of Human Rights and Minorities: Claudia Cuevas: cpc@colombiaemb.org <mailto:cpc@colombiaemb.org>
Colombian Embassy Phone: (202)-387-8338
President of Colombia
Dr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez,
Cra 8 # 7-26, Palacio de Nariño, Bogotá D.C.
E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
Fax: 57 1 566 2071
Or check his website www.presidencia.gov.co
High Commissioner for Peace: Frank Pearl: frankpearl@presidencia.gov.co <mailto:frankpearl@presidencia.gov.co>
Director of Human Rights, Ministry of the Interior: Rafael Bustamante: dhdirector@mij.gov.co <mailto:dhdirector@mij.gov.co>
Minister of Education: Cecilia Vélez: despachoministra@mineducacion.gov.co