On 2 July, the Inter-Ecclesiastic Commission of Justice and Peace received confidential information about an ongoing plan to kill the Human Rights Defender Jani Silva. The plan is allegedly run by an armed group called “La mafia” because of the voluntary crops substitution program that Jani Silva is promoting in the Putumayo region (South West), Colombia. According to NGOs, “La Mafia” is behind the killings of 14 persons in the Putumayo region since the COVID-19 lockdown started. We are urging the National Protection Unit to increase protection measures for Jani Silva.
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Alfonso Campos Martinez
Director of the National Protection Unit
Due to postal restrictions caused by COVID-19, please only send physical mail to the Embassy
Email: [email protected]
Ambassador Francisco Santos
Embassy of Colombia
1724 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036
Phone: 202 387 8338
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ColombiaEmbUSA @PachoSantosC
Facebook: @ColombiaEmbassyUS
Salutation: Dear Ambassador
Dear Mr. Campos,
I am writing to express concern for the safety of Jani Silva, a human rights defender from the Association for the Integral and Sustainable Development of the Amazon Pearl (ADISPA), advocating for peace and the environment in Putumayo.
Jani has faced at least 5 different security incidents since the COVID-19 quarantine started. On 2 July, Inter-Ecclesiastic Commission of Justice and Peace (Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz) received information of an ongoing plan to kill her.
I urge you grant Jani Silva an armored vehicle for her transportation; give her access to a protected boat to ensure her transportation back and forth from the Peasant Reservation Area of the Amazon Pearl; change her bodyguards; and ensure there is police protection while she is at her home.
Yours sincerely,
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