From: Patrick Reinsborough organize@ran.org
Subject: UWA Embera Katio leader kidnapped! URGENT!
Date: Mon, 4-Jun-2001
KIMY PERNIA DOMICO, a leader and international ambassador for Colombia's Embera Katio people has been kidnapped! The Embera Katio are, along with the U'wa people one of Colombia's most prominent indigenous resistance struggles. They have been peacefully fighting to protect their lands from flooding by a massive hydro-electric dam for years and have frequently united with the U'wa to draw attention to land rights for all indigenous peoples in Colombia.
Please read this action alert from the Canada-Colombia Solidarity Campaign and take action. The life of one of Colombia's most powerful voices for indigenous land rights and dignity is in our hands!
CALL AND FAX TODAY!
Let the Colombia government know that we are demanding action to protect and free Senor Domico. Be polite but let them know you are very concerned for his safety and concerned that the government is not doing enough to stop the violence against indigenous communities such as the Embera and the U'wa.
Kimy has toured Canada and in the U.S. attended a SF forum on Colombia organized by Global Exchange and Rainforest Action Network in February of 2000. Many of us have had a chance to hear his impassioned pleas for peace first hand and know that he is voice we cannot allow the violence to silence!
In addition to the faxes and numbers below please fax and call the Colombia embassy in Washington D.C. and let them know you are extremely concerned for Senor Kimy Pernia Domico's safety.
Colombian Embassy 2118 Leroy Place, NW Washington, DC, 20008 (202) 387 8338 - Fax: (202) 232 8643 emwas@colombiaemb.org
Please circulate
URGENT!!! URGENT!!! URGENT!!! URGENT!!! URGENT!!!
CALL FOR IMMEDIATE SOLIDARITY!
MOVE SKY AND EARTH TO SAVE THE LIFE OF KIMY PERNIA DOMICO!
The Canada-Colombia Solidarity Campaign has just been informed that Kimy Pernia Domico, friend and respected leader of the Embera Katio Nation of Colombia has just been kidnapped.
MUNICIPALITY OF TIERRALTA, CORDOBA PROVINCE, COLOMBIA:
The Autonomous Governments (Cabildo Mayor) the Alto Sinu and Rio Verde inform that: on Saturday, June 2, 2001 at approximately 6:20pm, Embera Katio leader KIMY PERNIA DOMICO was taken by force by armed men on motorcycles. KIMY was forced onto a motorcycle by three armed men who then forced him onto a white motorcycle. Kimy then stepped off the motocyle to be later forced back on with a pistol to his head. Two of the armed men rode with him on one motorcyle and a third followed behind on another. According to witnesses, KIMY was yelled out "They have me!" as the motocycles left Tierralta heading towards the city of Monteria, Cordoba. Close to a gasoline station, KIMY threw himself from the motorcycle to be later forced back on by the amered men who continued their route towards Monteria.
The manner in which the kidnapping was carried out indicates that the act was perpetrated by paramilitaries.
For those reading this letter who live in Canada, you may have met Kimy Pernia Domico, when he came to Canada a few years ago to denounce the violations of his people's rights in reaction to their resistance to the Urra dam mega project, financed in part by the Canadian government.
The Urra dam project was protested by the Embera Katio people of Colombia as the mega project threatened their very survival. For demanding their rights, several leaders were assassinated, community members were kidnapped, others dissappeared.
Despite the barbarism used to break the resistance of the Embera Katio Nation, they continued their struggle with dignity in large measure to the courage and persistance of KIMY PERNIA DOMICO.
Thanks to the relentless spirit of struggle fo the Embera people and their leaders, the Urra corporation and the Colombian government signed and agreement for compensation for and mitigation of Urra's damages to the Embera people and their terrotorial integrity on April 19, 2000. Although it was expected that the violence would end after the signing of the agreement, it did not and the Embera continued to as targets of kidnappings and disappearances.
The Cabildo Mayor Embera Katio -CAMAEMKA - asks of citizens of the world along with international humanitarian and human rights organizations to to pronounce themselves in solidarity with their demand for THE LIBERATION OF THEIR BROTHER, KIMY PERNIA DOMICO, respect for the Embera Nation, their culture and their Autonomy.
CAMAEMKA also asks the world to join them in their demand to the Colombian government for the fulfillment of the April 19th Agreement concerning the PROTECTION OF THEIR LEADERS AND COMMUNITIES.
Please direct your letters to: Señor Presidente Andrés Pastrana Arango Presidente de la República Palacio de Nariño, Carrera 8 No.7-26 Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia Fax: + 571 287 7939, + 571 284 2186, + 571 289 3377 or + 571 337 1351 Salutation: Dear President / Excmo. Sr. Presidente
Señor Vicepresidente Gustavo Bell Lemus Alto Consejero Presidencial para asuntos de Derechos Humanos y lucha Contra la Corrupción Cra. 8 #7-26, Palacio de Nariño Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia Fax: + 571 337 1351 Salutation: Dear Vice-President / Excmo. Sr. Vicepresidente
Dr. Humberto de la Calle Ministerio del Interior Carrera 8, No.8-09, Piso 2 Santa Fe de Bogotá, COLOMBIA Fax: + 57 1 286 8025 / 281 5884 / 342 3201 Salutation: Sr. Ministro/Dear Minister
COPIES TO:
Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia ONIC Apartado Aéreo 32395 onic@colnodo.apc.org Cabildo Mayor Embera Katio CAMAEMKA camaemka@col3.telecom.com.co The Canada Colombia Solidarity Campaign colombiacrisis@latinmail.com
CENSAT AGUA VIVA Amigos de la Tierra (FoE) Diágonal 24 Nº 27a-42 Santafé de Bogotá Colombia Sur América Telfax: 57-1-244 05 81 y 244 24 65