A CALL FOR SUPPORT FROM COLOMBIA

In November of 2009 members of the 8th Day Center for Justice traveled to Colombia and
visited a community in Guaimaro, Magdalena.

Recently we received reports from our Colombian partners that the people of Guaimaro were
displaced once again by the army and local police on Friday, November 27th, 2009. This date
marked the 10th Anniversary of the assassination of seven people of Guaimaro, and the people
had come to a point in their healing process where they wanted to remember those assassinated
with a remembrance ceremony. It was at this time that the displacement happened.

Situations such as Guaimaro represent a larger pattern of violence and impunity in Colombia as
human rights reports indicate that only 22% of the situations like this are actually investigated. In
this specific case, the state structures have completely failed in a juridical process for the victims
which leave them in a constant, vulnerable state of waiting with no guarantee for reparation.

Since 2000 the US government has provided almost $5 billion in military and police funding to
Colombia, funding that has been largely ineffective in addressing human rights abuses.

ACTION
Copy and paste the following letter into a new email and send it to the following email addresses:

1. Colombian Embassy in Washington
 embassyofcolombia@colombiaemb.org

2. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
oacnudh@hchr.org.co

3. Interamerican Commission for Human Rights
cidhoea@oas.org

4. Carolyn Cooley
Human Rights Department at the US Embassy in Colombia
CooleyCN@state.gov

LETTER
To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing regarding international support for the humanitarian efforts being carried out to
ensure the safety of the Guiamaro community in the Magdalena region.

I am concerned about the serious threats in the Magdalena region that have put the security and
lives of the Guaimaro community at risk. On Friday, November 27th 2009, a date that marks the
10th anniversary of the assassination of seven people within Guaimaro, the community received
threats from the army and local authorities to displace the community once again.

Consequently,

- I request the national Colombian government – headed by President Álvaro Uribe Vélez -- to
fully investigate these threats as well as the previous threats and murders experienced by the
Guaimaro community and to bring those responsible to justice.

- I request that President Uribe guarantee there will be no military, police or related presence,
which could risk the life, safety and physical integrity of the community members of Guaimaro,
Magdalena.

- Likewise, I request that the governments of Colombian and the US closely monitor the
increased army and local police presence and threats from aforementioned groups in Guaimaro to
ensure that the community can live dignified daily lives without imminent fear of displacement.

- Finally, as the situation in Guaimaro is representative of a larger pattern of violence and
followed by impunity, all US funding must immediately be ended to prevent further victimization
of the people of Colombia.

Respectfully,