Among the Red de Hermandad members, PASC has been accompanying the Foundation « Committee for Solidarity with Political Prisoners » since 2006. Criminalization of the social movements is an integral part of the conflict in Colombia. Indeed, judiciarisation tries to isolate and delegitimize political oppositions. Therefore, bringing one’s support and unconditional solidarity helps the fight against this root of criminalization.
Committee of Solidarity with Political Prisoners (CSPP)
The Committee of Solidarity with Political Prisoners (CSPP) is an organization for the Defense of Human Rights which was created in 1973 by the joint effort of several organizations and well-known personalities (like Gabriel Garcia Marquez) concerned with the rights of prisoners, jailed for political reasons. CSPP is fully dedicated to the protection and promotion of the Human Rights of political prisoners and is mainly composed of volunteers. CSPP provides a psychosocial support to prisoners and their families, as well as legal support for their defense. CSPP also participates in various contexts to denounce arbitrary arrests, abusive criminalization of political actions and social activities. It also discloses the Human Rights violations rampant in penitentiary establishments.
CSPP employees and volunteers are often subjected to death threats and have been victims of violations of their rights. In 1990, Jesús Pedraza Becerra, a CSPP lawyer in Bogota, “disappeared”, and in 1995, Javier Alberto Barriga Vergel, a lawyer member of the Norte de Santader section of CSPP was killed on his door-step. In 1999, Jésus Puertas and Julio Ernesto Gonzalez, both of CSPP Medellin were likewise assassinated and the list keeps growing. Although CSPP was forced to close down in 1999 due to many threats received by its members, it is now back in operation and its volunteers maintain their efforts, in spite of repression and the criminalization of their activities.
Accompaniment of Political Prisoners and the Committee.
Foundation CSPP has its central office in Bogota and is divided into 6 regional sections, in the following departments: VALLE, ANTIOQUIA, TOLIMA, ATLÁNTICO, CUNDINAMARCA, SANTANDER. PASC has provided its accompaniments mainly in the Santander section. It has visited or kept in contact with prisoners in the high security jail of Palo Gordo Giron, also with the detainees of the prison for women in Bucaramanga, and at last with the inmates in Cucuta. PASC accompanies the Committee, but specifically prisoners whose special situation could put them into a vulnerable position. Such is the case of Diomedes Meneses Carvajalino who was tortured and left for dead by the Colombian Forces but is now suing his torturers, still from his prison cell.
Developing awareness of the daily reality of political prisoners.
To open a debating space in North America for the study of the problems of State Terrorism and related high security trends. Using the key concept of “Political Prisoner”, recognized in International Law, affords a link with similar situations and concepts, in Canada and elsewhere, like Security Certificates, Repression, Criminalisation of Political Activities, etc… At the core of the procedures of accompaniment, are the Committee’s Urgent Actions to be translated, acted upon and distributed.
Visits to Colombian Prisoners and their families.
To create an exchange space for Political Prisoners, and simultaneously to demonstrate to the penitentiary administration the international support afforded the prisoners. Also to break the social marginalization of families and to denounce the threats and persecutions to which they have been subjected.
Accompaniment of CSPP members.
CSPP members are threatened and their work is continually under attack, as is their personal security. Thus this accompaniment includes participating to the Committee’s activities. Indeed, the Committee organizes its own activities and also joins in many events organised by UIS, CUT, Sinaltrainal, the Association for the Disappeared, the Movimiento de las Victimas, etc... These activities could be demonstrations, vigils, movie showings, discussions and conferences, tributes, etc.
Letter-writing with Political Prisoner groups.
Most Political Prisoners are social activists who suddenly find themselves isolated from the outside world. Correspondance with the outside world helps break their isolation. These Political Prisoners are detained by a system which accuses them of rebellion, keeping them in a particularly vulnerable state. Indeed, many social leaders are sentenced as rebels because of their social commitments.
Diffusion of texts, videos and witness statements of Political Prisoners. Support of their demands.
In the PASC’s publication, la Piedra en el Zapato, but also on our web site and in our brochures, we regularly publish analyses and poems written by Colombian Political Prisoners. We also encourage the exchange of articles among other publications like 4strugglemag or Certain Days Calendar, written by Political Prisoners of North America and their allies. PASC also diffuses materials Video and Audio created by prisoners.