Dr. Francisco Santos Calderón
Vicepresidencia de la República
Carrera 8A No 7-27
Bogotá
COLOMBIA
Dear Mr. Vice-President:
I am alarmed at reports that human rights defender Ingrid Vergara has received death threats and her daughter, 14-year-old Cendy Torres Vergara, has been followed by unknown individuals in the city of Sincelejo, northern Colombia. I fear that her life and that of her daughter may be at risk.
Amnesty International reports that on 26 October 2009 Cendy Torres noticed a white car with tinted windows and without license plates following her while she walked to school in Sincelejo. The car slowed down and two children who were walking past went up to it. The children then told Cendy Torres, "They want you to let your mom know that she must shut up if she wants to reach the new year." The car then drove away. Cendy Torres had noticed the same car following her on the afternoon of 19 October, the morning of 20 October and the afternoon of 21 October. On 21 October, neighbors told Ingrid Vergara that a white pick-up truck with tinted windows had driven past her house several times. The vehicle slowed down every time it passed her house.
Ingrid Vergara is a regional leader of the National Movement of Victims of State Crimes, a coalition of civil society organizations campaigning for truth, justice and reparation for the victims of human rights violations. I am concerned that those threatening her and her family seek to intimidate her into stopping her work to promote human rights.
I urge you to take immediate measures to guarantee the safety of Ingrid Vergara and Cendy Torres in accordance with their wishes. Please see to it that a full and impartial investigation is conducted into these and previous death threats against Ingrid Vergara and Cendy Torres. I ask you to ensure that the findings of this investigation are made public and that those responsible for such actions are brought to justice. By fully prosecuting those who threaten or attack human rights defenders, your government can send a clear signal that such actions will not be tolerated.
I thank you for your attention to this serious matter.
Sincerely,
copy to:
Ambassador Carolina Barco Isakson
Embassy of Colombia
2118 Leroy Place, NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 232 8643
Email: embassyofcolombia@colombiaemb.org
