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On June 20, Colombian human rights activist and theologian Abilio Pena was assaulted and intimidated by known members of the Black Eagles paramilitary group in western Colombia.

Pena, two other human rights defenders from the Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission, and a group of Afro-Colombians displaced from their lands were on their way to Curvarado, Choco, when men carrying machetes stopped and surrounded them for hours.

The human rights defenders were to assist in the process of demarcating and returning land reportedly taken from Afro-Colombians by paramilitaries in 1996. The Commission advocates on behalf of the return of this land to its collective owners.

You can help stop the intimidation of Colombian defenders working to recover land taken from Afro-Colombians in Curvarado. Join us in demanding that the Colombian Attorney General:

• Immediately investigate the June 20 events, especially the involvement of the Black Eagles paramilitary group.
• Expedite the criminal investigation into twenty-three employees of palm oil companies for illegal appropriation of land and forced displacement.
• Assure police presence at any future demarcation of land.