Peace Community Leader Murdered by Army

Colombian Peace Community Leader Murdered by Colombian Army

As the weekend's events to close the School of the Americas (SOA) are
getting started and thousands of people are converging in Columbus,
Georgia - http://www.SOAW.org - we receive sad news from our friends in
the Colombian Peace Community of San José de Apartadó. On Thursday,
November 17, 2005, troops commanded by General Luis Alfonso Zapata Uribe*
attacked and killed Arlen Salas David, a leader of the peace community.

More than 10,000 Colombian soldiers have been trained at the SOA/WHINSEC.
Colombia continues to send more soldiers to the SOA than any other
country--with chilling results. Graduates of the school are consistently
cited for human rights abuses. The U.S. is an active contributor to the
war in Colombia, providing billions in military aid and training to the
Colombian military. Movements for justice in the Americas need to stand in
solidarity with the people of Colombia, work to change U.S. foreign policy
and close the SOA.

*General Luis Alfonso Zapata Uribe, who has commanded the 17th Brigade of
the Colombian Army since May 2005, was trained in counter-insurgency at
the School of the Americas. He attended the "Small-Unit Infantry Tactics
C-7" course to become "familiar with small-unit operational concepts and
principles at the squad and platoon level, ... [to] receive training in
planning and conducting small-unit tactical operations."

The San José de Apartadó Peace Community wrote yesterday, November 18, 2005:

"We make an appeal for national and international support, so that our
extermination can be stopped; so that the inhabitants of the whole region
of Arenas Altas are not forced to become internally displaced, which the
Army has told us is their objective. The serious and committed work that
Arlen was carrying out will guide us. Pain barely lets us talk but we will
continue to cry 'Dignity' out loud, like he taught us to do during his
daily chores and his commitment to the community. His two small children
will continue to walk besides us, building a different tomorrow in which
there will be respect for life. Arlen, our tears accompany this horror but
you are with us, giving us life. Thank you for your leadership, your
committment. Someday history will judge those who murdered you."

To read the entire message from the San José de Apartadó community in
Spanish and English, click here:
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=1221

For information about the February massacre in San José de Apartadó:
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=1024

Click here to take action: http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=1081