To: AMNESTY@listserv.arizona.edu

Jim Kolbe is a contact for this action. His

Dear Andean RAN Coordinators,

Below is a legislative alert regarding U.S. military
aid to Colombia.   Please make a phone call TODAY if
your Member of Congress is on the list below.  We'll
be sending out a broad legislative alert in the coming
weeks for action by all RAN groups.

If you have any questions, or would like advice on how
to approach your Congressional representatives, please
don't hesitate to contact me.  We're also interested
in hearing about your representatives' responses to
you calls.

Sincerely,

Gina Amatangelo
Colombia Cogroup assistant
(512) 496-5815
gamatangelo@yahoo.com


Take Action! Stop U.S. Military Assistance to Colombia

Background:

As part of an emergency request for funding for
anti-terrorism worldwide, the Bush Administration has
requested an additional $31 million in military aid to
Colombia.  This would add to the$343 million in aid to
Colombian security forces that the United States has
already approved for the year 2002. The proposal would
expand the focus of U.S. support to the Colombian
military, for the first time providing assistance to
the Colombian government in their struggle against
guerilla insurgency groups.  Since peace talks with
the main guerilla group, the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC), broke down in February,
violence by all armed actors death squads has
escalated, putting civilians at risk.  Amnesty
International has documented widespread collaboration
between the Colombian military and paramilitary death
squads responsible for the overwhelming majority of
human rights violations in Colombia.   Amnesty is
concerned that U.S. military assistance to Colombia
will only further exacerbate political violence and
the human right crisis.

The Members of the House Subcommittee on Foreign
Operations Appropriations will vote on this request on
Wednesday, May 1.

Call Today!  If you Member of Congress is one the
Subcommittee members listed below please call his/her
office before Wednesday:

Jim Kolbe, Arizona                      Nita M. Lowey
Sonny Callahan, Alabama         Nancy C. Pelosi, California
Joel Knollenberg, Michigan      Jesse L. Jackson Jr.,
Illinois
Jack Kingston, Georgia          Carolyn C. Kilpatrick,
Michigan
Jerry Lewis, Mississippi                Steven R. Rothman, New
Jersey
Henry Bonilla, Texas
John E. Sununu, New Hampshire


Please call your representative's offices in
Washington, ask to speak with the foreign policy aide,
and voice your concerns to him or her.  To reach the
DC office, call the congressional switchboard at
202/224-3121.  If you do not know who your
representative is, please see www.house.gov/writerep.
They care what constituents think, and they need to
hear from you!


Talking Points for Your Calls:

1) Cut military aid to Colombia!

       U.S. military aid to Colombia will inadvertently
support paramilitary squads that are responsible for
the majority of human rights violations in Colombia.
The Bush Administration has requested additional
emergency funds for the Colombian military as part of
its anti-terrorist efforts.  But the Colombian
military still maintains close ties with paramilitary
groups, who are on the US State Department list of
terrorist groups and who commit more than 84% of
non-combat killings and "disappearances in Colombia."

       Sending more military aid to Colombia will not to
help protect civilians.  Amnesty International USA,
Human Rights Watch and WOLA put out a report this
February that shows that the military continues to
provide illegal paramilitary groups with intelligence
information and equipment and refuses to protect
civilians from paramilitary massacres.

2) Support measures to ensure that our tax dollars
don't fund human rights violations in Colombia!

       Urge your representativs to maintain existing human
rights conditions on military aid to Colombia, and
vigorously enforce the Leahy Law, which is a critical
tool for ending impunity for perpetrators (the Leahy
law prohibits U.S. funds to units of security forces
that have been involved in human rights violations,
unless the individual responsible has been brought to
justice).  The Colombian government has failed to meet
any of the human rights restrictions on military aid
previously established by the U.S. Congress.

For a copy of the AIUSA's joint report on Colombia's
compliance with human rights restrictions on U.S.
military aid (by AIUSA, HRW & WOLA):
http://www.hrw.org/press/2002/02/colombia0205.htm