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Update: No. 7
Liliany Obando Must Be Released
Justice will defeat the so-called Farc-Politica
Peace and Justice for Colombia / Sunday 15 November 2009 / Español
 

It is almost 16 months since Liliany Obando was detained and incarcerated on bogus charges of rebellion – a practice that has become common in Colombia under Alvaro Uribe’s regime, aimed at silencing the political opposition.

During this time she has been denied home detention seven times without reason and in violation of her constitutional rights. Liliany’s trial will begin on the November 23 but the case has already been plagued with irregularities from the start including harassment of her family. Recently on September 2 this harassment went international when authorities tried to trick her into being interviewed by an officer of the Australian Federal Police saying at first he was a representative of the Australian Embassy and that her lawyer was just outside the interview room, as if he condoned the interview.

This was just another irregularity in a long list and another violation of Liliany’s rights by attempting to conduct an interview without an order. The attempted interview was an effort to find out about organizations and individuals she visited on her trips to Australia. It also sought to internationalize “farc-politica” (FARC politics) – the tactic pursued by the government of Colombian President Uribe of falsely accusing political opponents and critical thinkers of links to guerrillas active in the country.

Liliany’s case has been accompanied by attempts to criminalize international solidarity in Canada and Australia where the secret services have interviewed people involved in the campaign for her freedom. Hate mail and threats have been received through the website and directed at people involved in the campaign.

On October 1 several actions against the repression and criminalization of the political opposition and academics and other critical thinkers were organized in Colombia, France, Canada, United States and Australia. In Colombia thousands turned out demanding the end of repression and demanded a humanitarian exchange of political prisoners as a first step towards a political solution to the social and armed conflict in the country.

We ask you to continue to demand the end of repression and politically motivated incarcerations of those whose only “crime” is to speak out against injustice and who wish for social justice and peace in their homeland.

Peace and Justice for Colombia (PJFC) calls on all its supporters to demand that the Colombian government implements a Humanitarian Exchange of prisoners as a first step in the political solution to the deep social and complex armed conflict in the country.

1. Demand that the Colombian Attorney’s General Office grant Liliany Obando home detention to allow her to care for her children.

2. Demand that the Colombian government guarantee the safety of Liliany and her family.

3. Request that human rights organizations monitor the safety of Liliany and her family.

4. Make a donation towards the campaign to free Liliany Obando.

Send your messages and letters to:

The Attorney General’s office.
Emails: contacto@fiscalia.gov.co & denuncias@fiscalia.gov.co

President Álvaro Uribe.
Email: auribe@presidencia.gov.co

Interamerican Commission for Human Rights.
Email: cidhoea@oas.org

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Email: oacnudh@hchr.org.co

Colombian Embassy in Australia (or your own country), Mr Diego Betancur.
Emails: embassyofcolombia@bigpond.com & ecanberra@cancilleria.gov.co

Copy your messages to:

Peace and Justice for Colombia, PJFC:
Emails: pjfcolombia@gmail.com & freelilianynow@gmail.com

Committee in solidarity with political prisoners.
Email: fcspp_presidente@etb.net.co

Please donate to the campaign in Australia to free Liliany Obando.

Donations can be made to: Bendigo Bank, Carlton.
Account name: "Freedom Fund" BSB: 633 000 Account #: 135064210