Colombian Journey – Mass Arrest

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

Sixteen people were arrested by the military and police on charges of “rebellion” and “terrorism” in Fortúl (15 miles south of Saravena in the state of Arauca) on August 12. The majority of those people are community leaders and the arrests took place just days before the August 17 deadline for candidates to register for the upcoming mayoral election. During the May 28 presidential elections, the candidate of the left-wing Alternative Democratic Pole, Carlos Gaviria, received more votes in Fortúl than did president Uribe. Many people view the arrests as another attempt by the government to disrupt elections in Arauca. On October 21, 2003, thirty one political leaders were arrested in Arauca just five days before municipal and state elections. Father Helmer Muñoz, who was leading in the polls for the governor’s race, was one of the people arrested. I traveled to Arauca City with Juan Carlos, lawyer for the Joel Sierra Regional Human Rights Committee, on August 14. I was able to talk with ten of the prisoners from Fortúl who were being held in the Arauca City police station. Two teachers, Abdón Goyeneche and William Saenz, were among the people arrested. Abdón has taught for 22 years and is the president of the Fortul teachers union. His brother, Leonel, was also a teacher and the treasurer of the United Workers Federation in Arauca. The Colombian military murdered Leonel and two other Arauca social leaders on August 5, 2004. Emiro, one of Abdón’s other brothers, was imprisoned during another mass arrest here in Saravena on August 21, 2003. Even though Emiro has not been convicted of any crime, he has spent three years in prison. “Last night we slept on the ground, chained to the bars, like dogs” said William – who has been a teacher for 18 years. “Because I help the poor, I’m considered a terrorist. My fear is that after I’m released, they’ll come to my house and kill me. That’s happened with a lot of innocent people.” William and Margarita have three children – seven, nine, and fifteen years old. William’s salary is their only income and he’s worried about how the family will survive while he’s in prison. When we arrived at the entrance to the Arauca City police station on August 15, the prisoners from Fortúl had been handcuffed together and lined up in front of the media. A police agent turned her camera directly at us and I took out my camera to return the favor. Colonel Palacios, the police commander, shouted “You can’t take photos here, this is a military establishment!” “She was filming me!” I shouted back. I wasn’t able to get the photo but the agent did stop filming us. I filed a complaint that afternoon with the director of the government human rights office in Arauca about being filmed by the agent and the forced participation of the prisoners in the “press conference.” That evening the prisoners were shown on the news and Colonel Palacios described the danger they posed for Arauca. One of those dangerous individuals is Luz Marina Rodriguez – a community leader and the mother of 7-month-old Mariangel. “She’s my first child and I’m going to miss that beautiful process – her first steps and her first words.” More than 500 people rallied together in the sports stadium in Fortúl on August 17 to call for the release of the prisoners. They then marched through the streets and past the police station where the prisoners had been held on August 12. Later that afternoon, Maria Gelvez registered as the candidate of the Alternative Democratic Pole for the September 17 mayoral elections. In love and solidarity, Scott Scott Nicholson serves as a Short-term Volunteer with the Social Organizations of Arauca, Colombia. As a part of the process of accompaniment, Scott works as an advisor/consultant in the administration of productive projects in the rural communities

Scott Nicholson serves as a Short-term Volunteer with the Social Organizations of Arauca, Colombia. As a part of the process of accompaniment, Scott works as an advisor/consultant in the administration of productive projects in the rural communities.

During the May 28 presidential elections, the candidate of the left-wing Alternative Democratic Pole, Carlos Gaviria, received more votes in Fortúl than did president Uribe. Many people view the arrests as another attempt by the government to disrupt elections in Arauca. On October 21, 2003, thirty one political leaders were arrested in Arauca just five days before municipal and state elections. Father Helmer Muñoz, who was leading in the polls for the governor’s race, was one of the people arrested.

I traveled to Arauca City with Juan Carlos, lawyer for the Joel Sierra Regional Human Rights Committee, on August 14. I was able to talk with ten of the prisoners from Fortúl who were being held in the Arauca City police station.

Two teachers, Abdón Goyeneche and William Saenz, were among the people arrested. Abdón has taught for 22 years and is the president of the Fortul teachers union. His brother, Leonel, was also a teacher and the treasurer of the United Workers Federation in Arauca. The Colombian military murdered Leonel and two other Arauca social leaders on August 5, 2004. Emiro, one of Abdón’s other brothers, was imprisoned during another mass arrest here in Saravena on August 21, 2003. Even though Emiro has not been convicted of any crime, he has spent three years in prison.

“Last night we slept on the ground, chained to the bars, like dogs”

said William – who has been a teacher for 18 years. “Because I help the poor, I’m considered a terrorist. My fear is that after I’m released, they’ll come to my house and kill me. That’s happened with a lot of innocent people.” William and Margarita have three children – seven, nine, and fifteen years old. William’s salary is their only income and he’s worried about how the family will survive while he’s in prison.

When we arrived at the entrance to the Arauca City police station on August 15, the prisoners from Fortúl had been handcuffed together and lined up in front of the media. A police agent turned her camera directly at us and I took out my camera to return the favor. Colonel Palacios, the police commander, shouted “You can’t take photos here, this is a military establishment!” “She was filming me!” I shouted back. I wasn’t able to get the photo but the agent did stop filming us.

I filed a complaint that afternoon with the director of the government human rights office in Arauca about being filmed by the agent and the forced participation of the prisoners in the “press conference.” That evening the prisoners were shown on the news and Colonel Palacios described the danger they posed for Arauca.

One of those dangerous individuals is Luz Marina Rodriguez – a community leader and the mother of 7-month-old Mariangel. “She’s my first child and I’m going to miss that beautiful process – her first steps and her first words.”

More than 500 people rallied together in the sports stadium in Fortúl on August 17 to call for the release of the prisoners. They then marched through the streets and past the police station where the prisoners had been held on August 12. Later that afternoon, Maria Gelvez registered as the candidate of the Alternative Democratic Pole for the September 17 mayoral elections.

In love and solidarity,

Scott