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Update 5

Mon, 03/30/2009 - 19:55 — Admin

Home detention for Liliany Obando a right denied to her children
Update No. 5, Monday, 8th December 2008

Today is 120 days since Liliany Obando was detained and incarcerated on bogus charges of rebellion. A practice that has become common in Colombia under Alvaro Uribe's regimen aimed at silencing the political opposition. During these four months the Special anti-terrorist fiscal 19, NANCY ESPERANZA PARDO-BONILLA denied Liliany's children the right to reunite with their mother. Liliany has been denied her right to home detention for a second time in appeal heard by Fiscal 11, AMPARO LEON-OJEDA.
We insist that the violation of Liliany's constitutional rights is also a violation of the fundamental rights of her two young children.
We are aware of the existence of over 7,200 political prisoners in the country whose only crime is to speak out against the current regimen which doesn't respect basic human rights. Colombia is a signatory country that on 10th December will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. How can a government that keeps that number of citizens in jail celebrate this day?
These Political Prisoners aren't terrorists they are in jail because they have spoken out and expressed opposition to the Colombian government. These Colombian political prisoners also have parents, brothers and sisters, partners and children.
PJFC wishes to thank on behalf of Liliany Obando and her family, all those peace loving individuals, unions, political and social organisations for their solidarity and support. Their support protesting the incarceration as well as demanding her freedom to the Colombian government has been instrumental for her legal team to be able to submit for third time an application for home detention while her case is heard. We will report on the verdict when available.
In response to an urgent appeal for letters endorsing the home detention application, less than 36 hours later we were flooded with letters and emails of support from people in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. It appears that the appeal's decision can take up to three months to reach so we look forward to a positive result so her children's rights can be upheld. We thank all those organisations and individuals for their quick response and solidarity.
The harassment of political organisations, unions and their leadership must cease. PJFC has learned about the repression against the sugar cane workers movement which begun in September. We have also learned about the repression perpetrated against the indigenous demonstrations that took place in October as well as the murder of 27 indigenous people, the disappearance of many and the wounding of others.
We have also received an urgent action call to demand the Colombian government stop the harassment and intimidation against the leadership of FENSUAGRO which has been constant for several years and worsened in 2008 including the detention and incarceration of Liliany Obando.
Peace and Justice for Colombia (PJFC), joins with the voices of political prisoners to demand that the Colombian government implements a Humanitarian Exchange of Prisoners as a first step towards a political solution to the social and armed conflict in the country.
We call on unions, parliamentarians, academics, political and solidarity organisations and all those peace loving people not to forget Liliany, her family and all those political prisoners who this Christmas will spend time forcibly separated from their families.
We ask you to continue to demand the end of repression and political incarceration of those whose only crime is to speak out against injustice and who wishes social justice and peace in their homeland.
Peace and Justice for Colombia, PJFC calls on all those loving people to demand that the Colombian government implements a Humanitarian Exchange of prisoners as a first step in the political solution to the deep social and complex armed conflict in the country.

  • Demand that the Colombian Attorney's General Office grant Liliany Obando home detention to allow her to care for her children.
  • Demand that the Colombian government guarantee the safety of Liliany and her family.
  • Request that Human Rights organisations monitor the safety of Liliany and her family.
  • Support and demand a Humanitarian exchange of political prisoners.
  • Make a donation towards the campaign to free Liliany Obando.

Send your messages and letters to:

Emails: embassyofcolombia@bigpond.com & ecanberra@cancilleria.gov.co
Copy your messages to:

  • Peace and Justice for Colombia, PJFC:

Emails: pjfcolombia@gmail.com & freelilianynow@gmail.com

Please donate to the campaign in Australia to free Liliany Obando.
Donations can be made to: Bendigo Bank, Carlton.
Account name: "Freedom Fund" BSB: 633 000 Account Number: 135064210
In solidarity,


Peace and Justice for Colombia, PJFC.
Websites: www.colombiasolidarity.net & www.freeliliany.net
Emails: pjfcolombia@gmail.com & freelilianynow@gmail.com