MOVICE - English

Attorney General Should Immediately Reopen the Case against Former Spy Chief Jorge Noguera

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:15:56 -0700

José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective
Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo”
June 13, 2008
Bogotá, Colombia

For the third time, the Attorney General’s Office must be held accountable for the ruling issued by the Supreme Court of Justice’s Criminal Chamber to overturn the case against former spy chief Jorge Noguera Cote, who has been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, misuse of authority through an arbitrary and unjust act, and improper use of classified or secret information, the evidence for which demonstrates that the office of the Administrative Security Department was put to the service of paramilitarism.

Extradition Cut Short

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:48:19 -0700

No Justice, No Truth, No Reparation:

José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective
Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo”
May 27, 2008
Bogotá, Colombia

In reference to the recent extradition of 14 paramilitary chiefs, the US Ambassador in Colombia, William Brownfield, recently affirmed that “with this extradition, Colombia and the United States will become better countries,” [1] basing this on the harmonious relationship between the two countries and alleging that all procedures established in Colombian law had been respected, that information would be shared with Colombian authorities, and that the “legal system in the United States also recognizes the right of the victims to ask for compensation y repayment in a legal process […].” [2]

As regards the case of the former Director of the DAS Jorge Noguera Cotes The Attorney General’s Office Should Proceed Quickly

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:32:17 -0700

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 .

Ruling on the La Rochela massacre by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights: A Just Ruling for Justice

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 19:22:58 -0700

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.

Inter-American Court Newly Condemns the Colombian State and Calls into Question the Demobilization Process

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:22:25 -0700

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.

The Colombian government's proposal for prisoner release: A Master Stroke For Impunity

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:22:44 -0700

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.

President Álvaro Uribe Vélez Keeps Distorting Figures

Sun, 27 May 2007 16:05:41 -0700

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.”

Appeal to the International Community

Mon, 07 May 2007 18:55:00 -0700

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.

INTERNATIONAL ETHICS COMMISSION FOR COLOMBIA

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:16:56 -0800

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

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:02:17 -0800

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 .

Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal, Session in Colombia, Hearing on Biodiversity.

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 18:49:34 -0800

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,

Fear for Safety

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 18:40:12 -0800

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

UA 297/06 Fear for Safety

COLOMBIA Arnold Gómez (m) ]

Globalization of Justice Environment and Territory

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 07:54:49 -0800

Over the last six years, various organizations based in Latin America have met to share their experiences in regards to their identity and their rights in the face of Impunity and Globalization designing concrete systems of mutual support, in solidarity with groups from Europe and developing joint plans of action for the protection of the environment, territories, and the search for equal justice for all.

Politicians’ Responsibility for Crimes against Humanity Should be Examined NOW!

Sun, 29 Oct 2006 08:01:14 -0800

Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado
Bogotá, Colombia

The Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado, National Movement of Victims of State-Sponsored Crimes, requests that Senator Dieb Maloof be excluded from the Senate Human Rights Commission.

During the first term of the Álvaro Uribe Vélez presidential administration, many political leaders and parliamentarians from the Liberal and Conservative parties, as well as from the movements making up the ruling coalition, have been implicated in scandals and investigations that link them with paramilitary groups. Evidence of these alliances has appeared not only in judicial files, but also in the irregular nature of electoral processes in several regions of Colombia, and in statements by the very paramilitary bosses, who have boasted of controlling one third of the legislative branch.

The Regulations to the Justice and Peace Law Openly Ignore the Colombian Constitution and International Human Rights Law

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 09:05:52 -0700

José Alvear Restrepo Lawyer’s Collective (CCAJAR)
Bogotá, Colombia
October 18, 2006

The José Alvear Restrepo Lawyer’s Collective (Corporación Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear Restrepo - CCAJAR) considers that several provisions contained in Decrees 4760 of 2005 and 3391 of 2006, which regulate Law 975 of 2005 (also known as the Justice and Peace Law), contravene the Colombian constitution and international law as regards the rights of victims, as well as ignore the Constitutional Court’s order with respect to the application of Law 975 of 2005.