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Free Colombian Political Prisoners
There are currently hundreds of political prisoners in Colombia's jails.
They include numerous trade unionists, student activists, community and indigenous leaders, human rights defenders and academics - all imprisoned for their opposition to the Colombian regime. Most are jailed without trial, though in the few cases in which people are convicted they often face up to 40 years in prison for 'rebellion' - a trumped-up charge that the authorities use against their opponents.
Political prisoners are kept in appalling conditions in overcrowded jails and are often denied medical attention, exercise time and educational opportunities. Many are tortured when first arrested. In women’s prisons, children under the age of three are imprisoned with their mothers - but when they reach three they are taken away and sometimes put into the appalling Colombian 'care' system.
The regime is clearly trying to silence people by locking them up. We are currently campaigning on eight prisoners
Liliany Obando
On August 8th 2008 Liliany Patricia Obando was detained by the Colombian authorities. She was dragged away in front of her two terrified children and her elderly mother. The Colombian regime has accused her of 'rebellion' and is currently holding her in appalling conditions in jail without having convicted her of any crime.
David Ravelo
On 14th September 2010 David Ravelo Crespo, Colombian human rights defender, social leader and journalist was detained by the Colombian authorities, falsely accused of conspiracy to commit a crime and aggravated homicide. He has been jailed since then in La Picota Prison, Bogota.
The FENSUAGRO Six
During the summer of 2011, six members of Fensuagro, the Colombian agricultural workers’ trade union, were detained in the region of Putumayo. Alexis Antonio Arroyo, Eulogio Tapiero Galindo, Manuel Antonio Marquez and Telmo Cuero Tegue were imprisoned on 22nd June, executive member Climaco de la Cruz Rodriguez on 30th July, and Faustino Carabali Rodriguez a week later on 7th August 2011. All are accused of “rebellion” and are being held in Mocoa Prison, Putumayo.
more ...The Colombian regime tries to silence those who speak out about human or workers rights. Some are killed, others imprisoned. Many of the victims are trade unionists. Justice for Colombia recently filmed inside two Colombian prisons where political prisoners are being held.
Colombian human rights activist Carmelo Agámez was detained in November 2008. Five men raided his house in San Onofre without a warrant. (Original source: http://www.rnw.nl/english/video/political-prisoner-colombia-carmelo-agamez).
While many more political prisoners continue to be detained in Colombian prisons, JFC has successfully campaigned to set free the following people
Carmelo Agamez, a human rights defender, was imprisoned from 15th November 2008 until 26th September 2011 – 34 months - without being convicted of any crime. He was held on accusations of "conspiracy to commit a crime". Although he has been released from prison, the legal process against him continues. Click here for more information on his case
Dr Miguel Angel Beltran, an academic was detained and imprisoned on 22nd May 2009. He was released on 7th June 2011 after being absolved of the charges of 'rebellion' and ‘criminal conspiracy for terrorist purposes’. In May 2011 Justice for Colombia and UCU, the British trade union of academics, coordinated an open letter to Colombian President Santos calling for Dr. Beltran’s release, signed by over 4,000 international academics. Click here to see a copy of the letter with signatories.
On his release Dr. Beltran wrote a letter to all those in the UK who supported the campaign for his freedom. Click here to read it. Dr. Beltran has also given an in-depth, personal interview on his case, available to read here.
Rosalba Gaviria Toro, a Fensuagro trade union activist and President of the Women's Movement for Peace and Human Rights was detained and imprisoned on 9th March 2009. she was released on 3rd June 2011 after being absolved of the charges of 'rebellion' and 'serious consiparcy to committ a crime'.
Aracely Cañaveral Vélez, a well known leader of the informal workers’ trade union, ASOTRACOMERCIANT, was imprisoned on January 17th 2010. She was released on May 16th 2011.
Samuel Rojas, leading member of the Bajo Ariari Regional Human Rights Committee, was detained from 10th September 2010 to 18th February 2011 on accusations of “rebellion”. He was absolved of all charges and the case against him was shown to be fabricated by the Colombian authorities. Samuel has written in thanks to the Justice for Colombia campaign for his freedom. Click here to read his letter.
Alirio Garcia, a member of the national executive of the Colombian agricultural workers trade union, FENSUAGRO, was imprisoned from 9th August 2009 until 25th March 2010 accused of rebellion. He was absolved of all charges and released from jail after the case against him was shown to be false.
Andres Gil, a leader of the Peasant Farmers Association (ACVC) was detained by the Colombian secret police and members of the Army on 29th September 2007. He was held for two years without being convicted of any crime until his release on 31st August 2009.
Miguel Gonzalez, a founding member of the peasant farmers union ACVC, was imprisoned in January 2008. JFC campaigned for almost a year for his release, which was finally granted in June 2009.
Martin Sandoval, president of the Permanent Committee for Human Rights in the Colombian region of Arauca, was released from prison on the 13th May 2009 after being unjustly detained for over six months. We had been campaigning for his release since November 2008.
Carmen Mayusa, human rights defender and leading activist in the Colombian health workers union, ANTHOC. She had been detained since the 11th May 2006 in Buen Pastor Women's Prison, Bogota. After two years imprisoned without trial she was released in June 2008.
Nieves Mayusa, human rights defender and trade union activist, was detained on 11th May 2006 in Buen Pastor Women's Prison, Bogota. She was released with Carmen in June 2008.
Raquel Castro, Colombian teacher and union activist for the Teachers' Association of Arauca helped to lead the mobilization that prevented Occidental Petroleum from drilling for oil in the territory of the U'wa indigenous people. She was arrested on 5th August 2004 and released more than three years later in August 2007.
Samuel Morales, Colombian teacher and union activist for the Teachers' Association of Arauca was detained on 5 August 2004 and was convicted of 'rebellion' in November 2006, despite serious doubts about the reliability of evidence against him. On 28th April 2007 he was released after completing his sentence. He will continue with his appeal against the conviction.
Hernando Hernandez, indigenous leader and member of the Permanent Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, in Caldas, and the Colombian Agricultural Union FENSUAGRO. He was detained in June 2005 and held without trial until November of the same year.
Luz Perly Cordoba, founding president of the Rural Association of Arauca (ACA) and manager of the human rights section of the Colombian Agricultural Union FENSAUGRO. She was detained on 18th February 2004, and set free in April 2005. Luz now lives in exile.
Hernando Hernandez Pardo, former national president of the Oil Workers Union USO, was detained in December 2002 and kept under house arrest for 14 months, without charge. He was released on 26th March 2004. 
UNITE is calling for the release of six members of their sister union FENSUAGRO, currently imprisoned in Colombia. Click here to download a copy of the campaign postcard (pdf format)
