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Urgent Action Alert - Peace Leader Orlando Valencia Has Been Disappeared
Dear Colombia Advocates and Friends,
Orlando Valencia is a dedicated young community and peace leader in the Afro-Colombian region of Curvaradó in the state of Chocó. Noted for his leadership, knowledge, and passion, Orlando was invited to speak at the Partnering for Peace conference to be held this coming weekend in Chicago (info at http://www.chicagoans.net/conference2005). We were greatly disappointed to learn that Orlando had been denied his visa last week by the US Embassy and would thus not be able to join us.
Days later we were horrified to learn that Orlando Valencia was disappeared by what appeared to be members of the paramilitaries. His disappearance took place on Saturday as Orlando was traveling with fellow community members and international and national accompaniers.
Please take a few moments today to notify key U.S. and Colombian officials about our concerns for Orlando. Our immediate advocacy on his behalf could mean the difference between life and death. As we have seen with other cases, (notably, the case of national peace and church leader Ricardo Esquivia) pressure from the international community can lead key officials in the Colombian government to take action to prevent further harm to community leaders.
Below you will find an action alert along with details of what is currently known about Orlando’s disappearance.
TAKE ACTION
E-mail U.S. and Colombian offices in Bogotá and call your members of Congress to inform them of this case and to ask that they take action to help find Orlando Valencia and preserve his life.
Your messages and calls for action will have a great impact. Because both the Colombian and U.S. Governments should be informed and can be implored to take action we are asking that you contact (contact information below):
- Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos and Human Rights Director Carlos Franco
- U.S. Embassy in Colombia
- Your Congressional representative and senators
A draft letter and talking points are posted below. Please feel free to alter the draft letter to reflect your personal concerns and comments as you feel appropriate.
If you are willing to send international faxes or are a Spanish speaker willing to make phone calls please see the contact information at the very bottom of this alert.
ACTION ACCOMPANIED BY PRAYER
Please include Orlando, the peace communities of Curvaradó, those traveling to the Partnering for Peace conference, and all people who face the terror of violence in your prayers and in the prayers of your community during these trying hours and days.
DRAFT LETTER
Dear ____________,
I write to express my profound concern regarding the forced disappearance of Mr. Orlando Valencia on Saturday October 15. He was taken against his will on a motorcycle by persons known to be members of the paramilitary Self-Defense Forces, in the Curvaradó region of the state of Chocó. His forced disappearance took place immediately after he was detained for a time by state police in Belén de Bajirá.
Mr. Orlando Valencia’s disappearance and the proceeding detention was witnessed by a member of Canadian organization PASC, a member of the Interchurch Commission of Justice & Peace, and other members of the Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó communities.
Mr. Valencia is well recognized as a peace and community leader and had been invited to the Partnering for Peace: Colombian and North American Communities in Solidarity, conference in Chicago, IL, USA for the weekend of Oct 21, 2005. Many eagerly looked forward to the opportunity to share this experience with him and to learn more about his community's struggles. Unfortunately, prior to his tragic disappearance, Orlando Valencia had been denied a visa by the U.S. Embassy to attend the conference.
Knowing that Orlando Valencia’s life is in grave danger, I urgently request that you and your office do all in your power to investigate this case and to ensure his well-being and liberty.
Thank you for your concern and attention,
[name]
[title if appropriate]
[address]
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KEY OFFICIALS AND E-MAILS
Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos
Colombia Director of Human Rights Program Carlos Franco
U.S. Embassy to Colombia
Ambassador William Wood
Human Rights Officer Laura Kirkpatrick
kirkpatricklh@state.gov
Your representative’s office
Your senators’ offices
TIPS
E-mail a copy of your letter to your representative and senators offices by looking for their office e-mail on their web pages at www.house.gov or www.senate.gov. You can also simply make a call to their offices, briefly describe the situation, and ask for the e-mail address of the foreign policy aide.
LWR always greatly appreciates hearing any feedback that you have on your actions, please send your feedback and comments you receive from your letters and phone calls to kanderson@lwr.org.
TALKING POINTS FOR CALLS TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Phone numbers are posted on each representative and senator’s webpage (www.house.gov and www.sentate.gov) or call the Capitol Switchboard, 202.224.3121, to be connected.
- Introduce yourself as a constituent, say where you are calling from and that your call is to inform the office of the tragic disappearance of Colombian peace leader Orlando Valencia.
- Explain that Orlando had been invited to participate in Partnering for Peace, a conference to be held in Chicago this coming weekend. He was with community members and national and international human rights accompaniers when he was taken by what appeared to be paramilitaries.
- Tell them that you along with many other concerned individuals and organizations are imploring both the U.S. and Colombian governments to take action to investigate this case and in doing so make all attempts possible to ensure Orlando’s safety.
- Ask that they also monitor the situation and make calls to the U.S. Embassy indicating the concern of their office.
- Offer to provide more information (extracted from this alert) via e-mail.
INTERNATIONAL FAX AND PHONE NUMBERS
Phone calls and faxes are very helpful and effective
Colombian Vice President’s Office
Fax: 011-571-565-9797
Vice President Francisco Santos
Phone: 011-57-315-210-1467
Director of Human Rights Program Carlos Franco
Phone: 011-571-310-772-0130
U.S. Embassy in Colombia
Ambassador William Wood
(cc Human Rights officer Laura Kirkpatrick)
Fax: 011-571-315-2163
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE DISAPPEARANCE
Afro-Colombian Community Leader Orlando Valencia Disappeared
[Translation of alert from the Interchurch Commission of Justice & Peace (Catholic human rights organization and member of the Ecumenical Network), Oct 15, 2005]
“How much longer will the wicked be glad? How much longer, Lord? How much longer will criminals be proud and boast about their crimes?” Psalms 94:3-4
At 12:45 pm Saturday, October 15 Orlando Valencia, a resident of the Community Council of Curvaradó, was arbitrarily detained and disappeared after the vehicle in which he was traveling together with national and international accompaniers and other community members was stopped by police from Belén de Bajirá. Orlando Valencia is covered by provisional measures of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
After leaving Belén de Bajirá in the direction of Brisas they would be picked up by a boat that would take them to the community of Despensa Media in Curvaradó, where an assembly of the Curvaradó Community Council has been meeting since Friday. At the point known as “Y,” just a few minutes from Brisas, the vehicle in which Orlando and nine other community members from the Curvaradó River area were traveling, together with national and international accompaniers, was stopped by a four-door truck of the Bajirá police.
The police located themselves on each side of the road, pointing their rifles, checked identity documents (of passengers), and ordered Orlando, an accompanier from Justicia y Paz, and one from PASC of Canada to get into the police vehicle. Captain Cabrera of the police ordered the other community members to get back into the vehicle and to follow them back to the Bajirá police station. Close to the site another vehicle (white truck) was visible with three known paramilitaries inside, among them an Afro-Colombian known as Dimas.
Upon arriving at the station they were separated and interrogated. The national and international accompaniers were freed at about 11:30 [sic] and observed that Captain Cabrera, who was giving the orders, accused Orlando of being a deserter of the FARC guerrillas.
After being freed, the accompaniers were followed by known paramilitaries to a telephone company office and asked the operator to give them the number that they had called.
At 12:30, all the peasants, including Orlando, had been freed, and at about 12:40 all were going to the home of Enrique Petro, who was part of the group. Before entering the house, Orlando was approached by two paramilitaries who had followed the group on motorcycle. The two paramilitaries pointed a weapon at a member of Justicia y Paz when he went to protect Orlando and told him, “Come with us, or we'll kill you right here.” They put him on the motorcycle and left on the route toward the town of Chigorodó.
After the disappearance, the accompaniers and other community members had to take refuge in the church parish, where they remained under constant surveillance of the paramilitaries until they were surrounded by police, after alerts were activated.
At the time of this report, no information is available about where Orlando Valencia has been taken.
All the facts allow for corroboration of the State’s responsibility by action and omission in this arbitrary detention and forced disappearance.
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THANK YOU!
Your response to this urgent alert is deeply appreciated in this time of great fear and need. All that you do to highlight this case is very helpful.