By: José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Collective

Corporación Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo” 
June 20, 2007 
Bogotá , Colombia  

The Attorney General of Colombia, Mario Iguarán Arana, had the legal obligation of issuing a pronouncement on the case of Jorge Noguera by June 15, 2007. According to reliable sources of information, an arrest warrant waits on his desk that will determine the legal status of Jorge Noguera Cotes, former director of the Administrative Department of Security (DAS) [1] and former consul in Milan .

By José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Collective

June 20, 2007 Editorial Bogotá , Colombia

On January 18, 1989, 15 judiciary officials were investigating grave human rights violations in the department of Santander , including the forced disappearance of 19 merchants [1]. Suddenly, they were approached by several dozen armed men who presented themselves as members of the FARC and proceeded to disarm and hold them for the next two and a half hours. After their hands were tied behind their backs, they were put in two SUV's and driven to a place called La Rochela. There , one after another and in a state of utter defenselessness and vulnerability, they were executed in cold blood.

Washington , D.C. June 8, 2007

For the sixth time in the last three years, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has ruled against the Colombian State . On this occasion, the Colombian State was condemned for its collaboration with paramilitary groups in the commission of a massacre against judiciary officials. Today, the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) and the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Collective (CCAJAR), representatives of the victims and their family members, were notified by the High Court of this ruling on the case of the massacre of La Rochela, which established that the paramilitary group “Los Masetos”, responsible for this crime, acted with support and collaboration from State agents. 

José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Collective  
May 30, 2007  

Editorial 
Bogotá , Colombia 

Every day things are clearer. The initial government proposal for the “paramilitary demobilization” presented by then Minister of Interior, Fernando Londoño, did not contain any element of truth, justice, or reparation. In the end, the government was forced to eventually shelve this revolting proposal due to opposition expressed nationally and internationally. As a result, other legislative bills emerged to assemble a legal framework for these purposes.

10 unionists have been already killed in 2007

By: José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers' Collective José Alvear Restrepo” Bogotá , Colombia May 9, 2007

“When this presidential administration began, there were years in Colombia in which 126, 168, or even 200 members of workers organizations were murdered in a year. We have yet to reach zero, as we would like to say to the world, however this year one worker belonging to INPEC [National Penitentiary and Prison Institute] was murdered. By all accounts, his murder was not related to his union activity.”

4th NATIONAL FORUM FOR UNIVERSITIES REGARDING ARMED AND SOCIAL CONFLICTS

The Colombian Association of University Students – ACEU, urgently calls upon the International Community to stop stigmatizing and repressing the Colombian’s student movement. In the past two years, under President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, about 10 student leaders were detained, 30 were threatened of death, 20 were deported and 8 students were assassinated. These facts tragically demonstrate that we, university students of Colombia, are facing serious aggressions and persecutions.

In order to publicly launch the International Ethics Commission for Colombia, which is part of the Eight Strategies against Impunity proposed by the National Movement of Victims of State-Sponsored Crimes, Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado, a press conference will carried out at the Hotel de la Opera in the city of Bogotá (Calle 10 No. 5-72, La Candelaria) at 2 in the afternoon on March 2, 2007.

INTERNATIONAL ETHICS COMMISSION FOR COLOMBIA

(Bogotá , D.C. , February 13, 2006.) The National Movement of Victims of State-Sponsored Crimes (Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado ) presents the initiative to accompany the communities and grass roots organizations gravely affected by violence carried out by the State and through the paramilitary strategy. Nobel Laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, well known victims' associations from several countries, and distinguished lawyers and academics, have decided to offer their support to the victims of State-sponsored violence in Colombia .

10 YEARS AFTER OPERATION GENESIS

from ashes to hope, from death to life.

Ecological walk / Pilgrimage

15th – 23rd February, 2007

8 days walking for biodiversity

Cacarica- La Balsa-Salaquí Darién Colombia-Panamá (Cacarica)

Curvaradó- Cerro Cara de Perro (Jiguamiandó)

Dabeiba- Nudo de Paramillo (Dabeiba)

24 al 27 February, 2007

Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal, Session in Colombia,

PUBLIC AI
Index: AMR 23/044/2006
08 November 2006

UA 297/06 Fear for Safety

COLOMBIA Arnold Gómez (m) ]