Global Exchange Alert--Afro-Colombian Leader Orlando Valencia Murdered

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It is with great sadness that we share the news that Mr.
Orlando Valencia was found murdered on October 24, 2005;
two days later his wife confirmed that the body was that
of her husband and the father of their seven children.
Mr. Valencia belongs to a community of Afro-Colombians in
Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó who have secured their land
titles and who are struggling to preserve an
environmentally sustainable and traditional way of life in
the midst of conflict WITHOUT using weapons or any form of
violence. Since these communities received their land
titles, they have come under great pressure from
paramilitary and guerrilla groups who wish either to force
members of the community to take up arms or to occupy
their lands for the cultivation of oil palm, a monoculture
which greatly damages the biodiversity of these lands.



We are deeply saddened by the disappearance and
assassination of Orlando, whom we had expected to host at
this past weekend’s Partnering for Peace conference in
Chicago, where he was to represent the Red Ecuménica
(Ecumenical Network). Orlando was invited to participate
in this conference given his strong leadership and peace
activism on behalf of Afro-Colombian communities in the
Department of Chocó.

Orlando was detained by local police on Saturday, October
15, as he was traveling with fellow community members and
national and international human rights accompaniers to a
regional community meeting. Shortly after being released
by the police, the group was stopped again, and Mr.
Valencia was forcibly taken away by members of the illegal
paramilitary forces. Members of his family and community
were left with no information on where he was taken or how
to find him, until his body was discovered.

Many national and international organizations and
individuals wrote letters and brought his disappearance to
the attention of Colombian and U.S. officials. A mission
with representatives from numerous governments (but not
the U.S. government) and organizations went to investigate
Orlando’s disappearance last week.

Sadly, what happened to Orlando has happened to many
others in Colombia, and all too often these tragedies go
unnoticed. Orlando was an outstanding young leader,
bringing hope to his community, working for the dignity
and protection of his people and land, and his life was
taken needlessly. Many other community members, leaders,
wives, husbands, children are taken from this earth and
their passing goes unnoticed.

In moments like these, as members of a global community,
we can take action on behalf of those who need our
support.

ACTIONS BEING TAKEN BY PARTNERING FOR PEACE ORGANIZERS:

· A letter to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice, expressing concern for Orlando's community and
calling attention to the ongoing peril faced by
Afro-Colombian communities that are taking a stand to
protect their land and way of life.

· A letter to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe,
urging a comprehensive investigation and putting Orlando's
assassination into the context of paramilitary abuses and
illegal extension of palm plantations and other
enterprises in the territory of the peace communities.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:



Write to the U.S. State Department and ask them to:



* Urge the U.S. Embassy to issue a public statement
condemning the murder of Orlando Valencia and stating
support for Afro-Colombian leaders and their community
processes.
* Consider this case within the human rights
certification process for Colombia, because of evidence of
collaboration between illegal paramilitary groups and
Colombian public forces.

* Use other mechanisms available to the United States
in order to ensure that this crime does not remain in
impunity.



Contact Info: The Honorable Condoleezza Rice

U.S. State Department

2201 C Street, NW

Washington, DC 20520



Write to the Colombian government and ask them to:



* Investigate the conduct of the police in Belén de
Bajirá and suspend the head of police of this station for
singling out Orlando Valencia.
* Dismantle the paramilitary structures that coexist
with state authorities in Belén de Bajirá, Mutatá,
Chigorodó, Barranquillita, and Pavarandó.
* Provide guarantees so that a Christian burial of
Orlando Valencia can be carried out safely.
* Adhere to the precautionary measures issued by the
InterAmerican Court of Human Rights.
* Ensure that collective land titles are provided to
communities in Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó, so that they are
protected from false claims by palm oil producers denying
these communities' collective right to this land.
Immediately suspend aid to projects stemming from these
false claims.



Contact Info: Dr. Carlos Franco

Director, Program of Human Rights, Vice-Presidency of
Colombia

Email: [e-mail]