Sample letter for U.S. Officials

Dear

On November 8, elements of the Colombian Army began to enter the Alto Naya region. The Army had not entered these lands since more than 50 persons were killed in a 2001 in massacre by the Calima bloc of the AUC paramilitaries.

This November 8th, at least 100 uniformed Army soldiers entered the Alto Naya region, many with their faces covered. The Nasa, Eperara and Siapidaara indigenous , peasants and Afro-Colombians living in the region fear that this may be a prelude to another massacre. The army entered the area just previous to the 2001 massacre.  Another area of concern is that the military is restricting the entry of food and medicine into the zone and its detaining area residents arbitrarily and at random to obtain information from them.

The persons who committed the 2001 massacre will go untouched according to the recent Colombian paramilitary amnesty laws. Don’t let this become an incentive for further massacres. Please use your influence to pressure the Colombian government to withdraw these troops and leave the people of Alto Naya in peace.

Yours truly,

Sample Letters for Colombian Officials

The following is the translation of the Spanish text below. As a courtesy it is recommended that you send the Spanish text to the Spanish speakers unless you want to do your own revisions and additions.

ENGLISH:

Dear

On November 8, elements of the Colombian Army began to enter the Alto Naya region. The Army had not entered these lands since more than 50 persons were killed in a 2001 massacre by the Calima bloc of the AUC paramilitaries.

In the recent troop movement, at least 100 uniformed Army soldiers entered the Alto Naya region, many with their faces covered. The Nasa, Eperara and Siapidaara indigenous , peasants and Afro-Colombians living in the region fear that this may be a prelude to another massacre. The army entered the area just previous to the 2001 massacre.  Another area of concern is that the military is restricting the entry of food and medicine into the zone and its detaining area residents arbitrarily and at random to obtain information from them.

The Colombia Army should immediately withdraw these troops from this area. If this is not done, the army will share in the responsibility for any killings, disappearances or massacres that occur.

Yours truly,

SPANISH:

Estimado _________  [“Estimada” if addressing a woman]

El dia ocho de noviembre fuerzas armadas del ejército colombiano empezaron a entrar en la región Alto Naya. El ejercito no había entrado en esas tierras desde el año 2001, cuando el bloc Calima de los paramilitares mató a más que cincuenta personas  en  un masacre.

En el movimiento de tropas recientes, por lo menos cien soldados del ejército, vestidos en uniforme,  entraron la región Alto Naya, muchos con sus rostros cubiertos. Los indígenas, campesinos y afro-colombianos Nasa, Eperara y Siapidaara que están viviendo en la región temen que pueda ser un preludio de una nueva matanza. En año 2001, el ejército entró en la región  momentos antes de la matanza. Otra preocupación es que las fuerzas armadas están restringiendo la entrada de comida y medicina en la zona, y están deteniendo a residentes arbitrariamente para obtener información.

El ejercito colombiano debería sacar sus fuerzas de esta región. Si esto no tiene lugar. el ejecito debería compartir la responsibilidad por algunas matanzas o desaparaciones.

Atentamente,