Free Liliany Obando

Colombia's state security forces in conjunction with paramilitary groups are notorious for their human rights abuses and murder of trade unionists and social movement activists. No other country is as dangerous for trade unionists as Colombia. In the last twenty years more than 2,500 unionists have been killed, with 42 union leaders assassinated this year alone. This is pure state terrorism, which has received the political backing and financial support from the US administration.

Liliany's arrest is part of the Uribe government's crackdown on political opponents and social movement leaders in its attempt to silence all opposition and divert attention away from the scandals that have engulfed the government. Over 70 pro-Uribe legislators are under investigation for direct links to paramilitary death squads, in particular the notorious Auto-Defence Units of Colombia (AUC). Allegations have also been made that paramilitaries held secret meetings at Uribe's farm. 

Liliany Obando toured Australia on two occasions in the last few years while working for Fensuagro's international relations commission. Many Australian trade unionists, human rights activists and members of the broader community had the privilege of meeting Liliany during her visit and hear her stories. We were all struck by her courage and inspired by the accounts of resistance of the Colombian people to the human rights violations perpetrated by the government.

At present we are very concerned about Liliany's situation and well-being. She was the sole breadwinner in her family of two young children and her mother. Liliany is currently detained at High Security Women's Prison, Bogotá.

Numerous activist, community, university, church and union organisations have already sent letters of protest to the Colombian and Australian government expressing their condemnation to the arrest and incarceration of Liliany.

We have the urgent task of putting maximum pressure on the Uribe government to have Liliany's charges dropped and her released from prison.

We hope you can join the national Free Liliany campaign and help:

• Gain support from the broader community to free Liliany Obando.

This can be done through raising motions condemning her arrest at trade union meetings, sending a letter of protest to the Uribe government, holding protest actions, lobbying parliamentarians, publicize the case among other actions.

• Raising funds for the campaign.
• Organizeactivities to raise awareness of the plight of other political prisoners in Colombia.

We hope that the international efforts to free Liliany willl raise awareness about the terrible human rights situation in Colombia and encourage people to speak out against it.

Letters of protest can be sent to:

President of the Republic

Señor Presidente Álvaro Uribe Vélez
Presidente de la República, Palacio de Nariño, Carrera 8 No.7-2, Bogotá, Colombia
Fax: (+571) 337 5890 / 342 0592
E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co

Presidential Program on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

Dr.  Carlos Franco
Calle 7 N° 5-54
TEL: (+571) 336 03 11
FAX: (+571)  337 46 67
E- mail: cefranco@presidencia.gov.co
E-mail: fibarra@presidencia.gov.co

Embassy of Colombia in Australia

Colombia House
Level 2, 101 Northbourne Avenue
Turner ACT 2612
City: Canberra
Phone: +61 (02) 6257 2027
Fax: + 61 (0)2 6257 1448 
embassyofcolombia@bigpond.com
ecanberra@cancilleria.gov.co

For more information, email: freelilianynow@gmail.com