End the Years of Injustice: Free Liliany Now!
Colombian trade unionist, human rights defender and academic Liliany Obando has been imprisoned in Buen Pastor Prison, Bogota since 8th August 2008 - more than three years - without being convicted of any crime. She is being held on false accusations of "rebellion" and "the administration of resources related to terrorist purposes".
Justice for Colombia has been campaigning for her freedom throughout the three years of her detention, along with trade unionists and human rights campaigners across Australia, Canada and Europe, yet the Colombian authorities have refused to release her. Instead, in June 2011 they further limited her freedoms, moving her to a high security prison wing where she is only allowed outside for one hour a week, and must co-habit with former members of paramilitary death squads, putting her life in danger.
The supposed evidence against Liliany has been used against numerous critics of the Colombian regime, and has been ruled "inadmissible" in a separate case. However while most of those accused have now been released, Liliany remains in prison. It appears that, given Liliany’s work as a high-profile trade union rights campaigner, the authorities are making an example of her in order to silence her and prevent others like her from speaking out.
Justice for Colombia and our supporters continue to urge for Liliany’s release and for an end to the years of injustice against her. Please lend your support for her freedom by sending the below email to the Colombian Ambassador:
Message
Dear Ambassador,
I am writing to express my concern about the ongoing detention of Ms. Liliany Obando, the Colombian trade unionist, human rights defender and academic imprisoned since 8th August 2008 in Buen Pastor Prison, Bogota, without being convicted of any crime, on false accusations of "rebellion" and "administration of resources related to terrorist purposes".
I understand that before her detention Ms. Obando had carried out high-profile international work to highlight trade union and human rights abuses. I also know that Ms. Obando has been denied due process and is being held on dubious evidence that has been ruled "inadmissible" in a separate case, and that this same illegitimate evidence has been used against many other critics of the Colombian government who have now been absolved or released from prison.
It is also concerning that despite many previous calls for Ms. Obando's freedom, the Colombian authorities have in fact recently tightened the security measures against her and moved her to a high security prison wing where her life is endangered.
The circumstances of Ms. Obando's detention constitute a grave violation of her human rights and make clear that rather than for any crime, she is being detained for political reasons; to silence her opposition and prevent others like her from speaking out.
Her ongoing detention is an example of the Colombian State's practice of imprisoning its critics, and casts doubts on official claims of a wish to improve the human rights situation. Please forward my message urging the Colombian authorities to release Ms Obando and others like her without delay.
I look forward to progress in this matter,
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
