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From Canada
In solidarity with colombian students: UIS-Colombia
"We stand with the students who had the courage to oppose university ties to paramilitary groups and oppose the use of intimidation of any kind against student activists fighting for academic freedom and human rights."
Canadian Federation of Students / Monday 6 July 2009
 

July 6, 2009

Dr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez,

Presidente de la República

Carrera 8 No. 7 -26 Palacio de Nariño, Bogotá

Colombia

Fax. 5662071

Email: auribe@presidencia.gov.co

Dear President Uribe,

The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada’s national students’ organization representing more than
one half million students attending post-secondary institutions across Canada. The Federation denounces
the recent actions taken by university administrators at the Industrial University of Santander to criminalise
dissent, explicitly or implicitly threaten the safety of dissenters, and interfere with the rights of public
assembly and freedom of speech.

We are deeply concerned with the reports of political interference that seek to undermine the independence
of the student movement.

Canadian students stand in solidarity with Colombian students in their struggle for a high-quality, public,
autonomous post-secondary education system. We stand with the students who had the courage to
oppose university ties to paramilitary groups and oppose the use of intimidation of any kind against student
activists fighting for academic freedom and human rights.

We urge the government of Colombia to meet with student leaders to find a solution to the crisis and
ensure the safety and security of all students, faculty, and staff targeted by agents of intimidation. In
addition, we urge the Columbian government to maintain academic freedom on university campuses.

Sincerely,

Katherine Giroux-Bougard
National Chairperson

cc: Student Section COMOSOC, Carrera 15 bis No. 39A-11, Bogotá D. C., Colombia

Marcelo Castro Fox, Representante Permanente en Colombia – Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos

Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada
National Office · Bureau national

338, rue Somerset Street West/Ouest · Ottawa, Ontario · K2P 0J9
Telephone/Téléphone: (613) 232-7394 · Fax/Télécopier: (613) 232-0276 · www.cfs-fcee.ca