HRF to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe: Respect the Work of Human Rights Defenders

NEW YORK (November 7, 2008) -- The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) sent a letter today to President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia expressing its profound concern regarding his comments linking Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). HRF also expressed its solidarity with the Colombian people for the decades of violent conflict they have endured at the hands of the FARC.

“The FARC’s atrocities should be punished as war crimes with the most severe sanctions permitted by law,” said Thor Halvorssen, president of HRF. “However, the Colombian government’s ongoing conflict with the FARC should not result in lower standards for the protection of human rights, nor should it allow the government to attack human rights organizations, even when they are critical of the government,” continued Halvorssen.

The letter cites President Uribe’s public statements, which attack HRW and go as far as saying that Mr. Vivanco collaborates with the FARC. The letter also assures Uribe that HRW is an ethical organization with a deep commitment to transparency, thanks in great part to Mr. Vivanco’s leadership. Moreover, HRW has also repeatedly denounced the FARC’s actions.

For almost a half century, the FARC has subjected innocent people to abuse, humiliation, and torture, resulting in internal displacement, broken families, orphaned children, and a climate of fear.
HRF concludes the letter by requesting that President Uribe retract his comments and offer a public apology to Mr. Vivanco and to HRW. HRF does not currently have operations in Colombia, but its human rights work there is scheduled to begin in mid-2009.

HRF is an international nonpartisan organization devoted to defending human rights in the Americas. It centers its work on the twin concepts of freedom of self-determination and freedom from tyranny. These ideals include the belief that all human beings have the rights to speak freely, to associate with those of like mind, and to leave and enter their countries. Individuals in a free society must be accorded equal treatment and due process under law, and must have the opportunity to participate in the governments of their countries; HRF’s ideals likewise find expression in the conviction that all human beings have the right to be free from arbitrary detainment or exile and from interference and coercion in matters of conscience. HRF’s International Council includes former prisoners of conscience Vladimir Bukovsky, Palden Gyatso, Armando Valladares, Ramón J. Velásquez, Elie Wiesel, and Harry Wu.

Read the November 11, 2008 letter sent by HRF to President Uribe here. (Spanish only)

Contact: Thor Halvorssen, Human Rights Foundation, (212) 246.8486, info@thehrf.org