A publication called "Hablemos de Paz"; whether it was produced by a student organization at the National University of Colombia in Bogota; information on the students involved in its publication; whether there is an organization based at the university that goes by the same name as the publication; whether the students involved in the writing and distribution of the publication were ever threatened; if so, why and by whom (1998-2002) [COL39671.E]

No mention of a publication or student organization called Hablemos de Paz ("Let Us Speak of Peace") could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

A 22 May 1998 urgent action issued by the Colombia Support Network reported that students at the National University at Bogota were concerned due to "serious indicators pointing at the paramilitary groups taking action against the university students which have actively participated in the student movement." According to this urgent action, paramilitary groups had sent a letter to a radio station on 13 May 1998 expressing their intent to "clean" the "public universities from subversives" (ibid.). Further, at that time, activists "from different student organizations" had received death threats over the phone (ibid.).

Reports of actions taken against students at the National University in Bogota further to the threats outlined above could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, Country Reports 1999 reported that a student leader at the University of Antioquia was murdered by members of the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) in August 1999, and Eduardo Pizarro Leongomez, a professor at the National University in Bogota, survived an assassination attempt by unknown attackers in December (2000). Country Reports 1999, 2000 and 2001 also all report that paramilitary groups and guerrillas maintain a presence on campuses (2000, 2001, 2002).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Colombia Support Network. 22 May 1998. "Urgent Action for the National University of Colombia." http://www.colombiasupport.net/199806/0698univlet.html [Accessed 30 July 2002]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. March 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/wha/8326.htm [Accessed 2 Aug. 2002]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. March 2001. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/wha/741.htm [Accessed 2 Aug. 2002]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999. March 2000. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/1999/380.htm [Accessed 2 Aug. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted


IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

World News Connection (WNC)

Two oral sources contacted could not provide information on the subject.

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International

Database on Youth, United Nations Youth Programme

Derechos

Human Rights Internet (HRI)

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)

International Student Organizations

Latin American Network Information Centre (LANIC)

Studiant: Worldwide Student Organizations

United Nations High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR)

The World of Learning 2002