Colombie: tentative d’assassinat des défenseurs des droits humains Miguel Hoyos et Ualberto Hoyos

Your Excellency,

I am extremely concerned at a recent assassination attempt made on the lives of the human rights defenders Miguel Hoyos and Ualberto Hoyos. The two men are brothers and are members of the Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz (CIJP), based in the Zone of Curbaradó, Chocó, where they work on behalf of displaced people and community leaders.

On 17 September 2007, at approximately 9.00pm, an unknown person dressed in civilian clothing entered the home of Miguel and Ualberto Hoyos, in Belén de Bajirá. Upon recognising the identity of the two brothers the unknown person allegedly fired a gun and seriously wounded both men. The murder attempt coincides with the final court hearings held during the judicial proceedings into the killing of Orlando Valencia, a community leader of the Consejo Comunitario del Curvaradó in 2005. Miguel Hoyos is a witness in the legal proceedings. Furthermore, in August 2007, the brothers Hoyos had a key role in the return of 80 displaced families in the hamlet Caño Manso, in the jurisdiction de Carmen del Darién. The families had been forcibly displaced by illegal armed groups in 1997.

I believe that the attempt on Miguel and Ualberto Hoyos' lives is related to their peaceful human rights activities in Colombia, specifically on behalf of displaced families in the Zone of Curbaradó. Front Line continues to be concerned for the safety of Miguel Hoyos and Ualberto Hoyos and for all the members of the Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz (CIJP).

I urge the Colombian authorities to:

1.Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the attempted killing of Miguel Hoyos and Ualberto Hoyos, with the results made public and those found responsible brought to justice in accordance with international standards;

2.Guarantee the safety of all members of the Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz (CIJP), and ensure they are free to carry out their activities in the promotion and protection of human rights without intimidation or reprisals.

Yours sincerely,