URGENT: Young Communist Party Activist Disappeared in Colombia
News from Colombia |
on: Saturday, 6 June 2009
An active member of the Young Communist Party of Colombia has disappeared from the Colombian capital Bogota and there are extreme fears for her safety given recent reports of a massive increase in forced disappearances in Colombia. Cindy Johana Barrero was last heard from on the afternoon of May 29th when she spoke by telephone with her mother and they arranged to meet in the Restrepo neighbourhood of the city at 6pm that evening to go shopping. She did not arrive nor at an appointment with friends the following evening to attend the theatre.
Justice for Colombia is asking supporters to send the below letter to the Colombian authorities asking that they immediately take action to locate Miss Barrero. A similar case last year in which we asked supporters to pressure the Colombian authorities to find missing trade unionist Guillermo Rivera led to his dead body being found three months later. We sincerely hope that Miss Berrero does not meet the same fate.
The below letter should be sent to the Colombian Ambassador in your country or to one of the below:
Colombian Embassy to the UK and Ireland: elondres@cancilleria.gov.co
Colombian Ambassador to the USA: embassyofcolombia@colombiaemb.org
Colombian Ambassador to Canada: embajada@embajadacolombia.ca
Colombian Ambassador to Australia: ecanberra@cancilleria.gov
Colombian Ambassador to Brussels: ebruselas@minrelext.gov
Dear Ambassador,
I am writing to request that your Government take urgent measures to locate Miss Cindy Johana Barrero Caicedo, a resident of Bogota and active member of the Young Communist Party (JUCO).
Miss Barrero was last heard from at 3pm on May 29th when she spoke by telephone with her mother and arranged to meet in the Restrepo neighbourhood of the city at 6pm that evening. She never arrived at the appointment nor at an engagement the following evening.
Friends and family of Miss Barrero confirm that she had no travel plans and that none of her personal effects are missing and I am therefore deeply concerned for her safety.
As you will know the United Nations recently confirmed that Colombia is the only country in Latin America in which forced disappearances continue to occur on a regular basis and I would therefore appreciate an immediate response from you as to what measures are being taken to find Miss Barrero. Time, in cases such as these, is clearly of the essence.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
