What's At Stake?

Colombian Activists Targeted by Government Assassination Plot

In a recently uncovered secret report from the Attorney-General's office Ms. Celeyta and 12 other human rights defenders are falsely identified as being part of a terrorist network with links to the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Colombian guerrilla organizations, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN). The report includes photographs, profiles and personal information about the human rights defenders. The accusations of ties to the illegal guerrilla organizations place the activists in grave danger of being harmed by right-wing paramilitaries. Such paramilitary groups often kill those suspected of cooperating with the FARC or ELN.

Ms. Celeyta and Senator Alexander Lopez Maya, an opposition Senator also targeted in the document, alerted the police to the assassination plot against them. However, they fear that the authorities have not undertaken a thorough investigation.

The discovery of the plot to harm the 13 defenders is the latest in a series of plans in recent years to assassinate human rights defenders in Cali, South-West Colombia. Raids by the Attorney-General's office in August 2004 revealed an extensive operation to execute 175 human rights defenders in Cali, including Ms. Celeyta and Senator Lopez. The plan involved Colombian military officers acting with the assistance of private security firms and was named Operation Dragon. Hit men had reportedly already been paid to kill the activists and they were about to execute their plans when the Operation was discovered.

Operation Dragon also obtained information from the Interior Ministry's Protection Program. This Program is supposedly confidential and is intended to provide security to those human rights defenders who are receiving threats. However, it was this body that was providing information to the very people intent on killing the activists.

As with the recently discovered Attorney-General's report, the Operation Dragon documents contained detailed personal information about the human rights defenders, including information about their families and private residences, while making allegations that they were linked to terrorist organizations.

More than two years after Operation Dragon was discovered, no one has been prosecuted despite clear evidence linking specific members of the military to plans to kill 175 human rights defenders. With the discovery of the latest report, it appears that Operation Dragon has expanded to now included officials in the Attorney-General's office, the very people who should be responsible for investigating these crimes. Ms. Celeyta has now received indications from the Attorney-General's office that the investigations into Operation Dragon will be closed.

The highest levels of political leadership in Colombia, including the President, must publicly declare that human rights defenders such as Ms. Celeyta are not terrorists, and that they and their valuable activities must be protected. The Colombian government must also ensure that thorough, public and independent investigations are launched to prosecute those responsible for Operation Dragon and the latest report. The Colombian government must also provide Ms. Celeyta and the threatened human rights defenders with adequate protection to guarantee their security, integrity and ability to perform their work unimpeded.

More information about Operation Dragon:
http://www.ciponline.org/colombia/blog/archives/000334.htm#more
http://www.rfkmemorial.org/human_rights/1998/Operacion_Dragon_SUMMARY.pdf

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		What's At Stake? Colombian Activists Targeted by Government Assassination Plot In a recently uncovered secret report from the Attorney-General's office Ms. Celeyta and 12 other human rights defenders are falsely identified as being part of a terrorist network with links to the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Colombian guerrilla organizations, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN). The report includes photographs, profiles and personal information about the human rights defenders. The accusations of ties to the illegal guerrilla organizations place the activists in grave danger of being harmed by right-wing paramilitaries. Such paramilitary groups often kill those suspected of cooperating with the FARC or ELN. Ms. Celeyta and Senator Alexander Lopez Maya, an opposition Senator also targeted in the document, alerted the police to the assassination plot against them. However, they fear that the authorities have not undertaken a thorough investigation. The discovery of the plot to harm the 13 defenders is the latest in a series of plans in recent years to assassinate human rights defenders in Cali, South-West Colombia. Raids by the Attorney-General's office in August 2004 revealed an extensive operation to execute 175 human rights defenders in Cali, including Ms. Celeyta and Senator Lopez. The plan involved Colombian military officers acting with the assistance of private security firms and was named Operation Dragon. Hit men had reportedly already been paid to kill the activists and they were about to execute their plans when the Operation was discovered. Operation Dragon also obtained information from the Interior Ministry's Protection Program. This Program is supposedly confidential and is intended to provide security to those human rights defenders who are receiving threats. However, it was this body that was providing information to the very people intent on killing the activists. As with the recently discovered Attorney-General's report, the Operation Dragon documents contained detailed personal information about the human rights defenders, including information about their families and private residences, while making allegations that they were linked to terrorist organizations. More than two years after Operation Dragon was discovered, no one has been prosecuted despite clear evidence linking specific members of the military to plans to kill 175 human rights defenders. With the discovery of the latest report, it appears that Operation Dragon has expanded to now included officials in the Attorney-General's office, the very people who should be responsible for investigating these crimes. Ms. Celeyta has now received indications from the Attorney-General's office that the investigations into Operation Dragon will be closed. The highest levels of political leadership in Colombia, including the President, must publicly declare that human rights defenders such as Ms. Celeyta are not terrorists, and that they and their valuable activities must be protected. The Colombian government must also ensure that thorough, public and independent investigations are launched to prosecute those responsible for Operation Dragon and the latest report. The Colombian government must also provide Ms. Celeyta and the threatened human rights defenders with adequate protection to guarantee their security, integrity and ability to perform their work unimpeded. More information about Operation Dragon: http://www.ciponline.org/colombia/blog/archives/000334.htm#more http://www.rfkmemorial.org/human_rights/1998/Operacion_Dragon_SUMMARY.pdf Go Back