On July 14, ESCR-Net within the framework of ProtectDefenders.eu, sent a letter to the government of Colombia to express concern regarding recurring threats against human rights and environmental organizations in the department of Tolima in Colombia.
According to information received from reliable sources, on July 8, 2016, the Socio-Environmental Youth Collective of Cajamarca (COSAJUCA) received a threat written with letters cut from newspapers and/or magazines and glued to a paper, forming the following message “good children go to bed early, we put the rest to bed ourselves.” The letter calls upon the government of Colombia to, among other things, carry out an independent, impartial, and prompt investigation to clarify who is responsible for the various threats against the members of COSAJUCA, the Network of Environmental Committees of Tolima, and the mayor of Ibagué, Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo. The letter also calls for protection for human rights and environmental defenders, including the members of the aforementioned organizations, to allow them to carry out their work without harassment, persecution, threats, or interference of any kind.
