Illegal Surveillance of Colombian Human Rights Defenders

Letter to Colombian Government from International NGOs and Legal Organisations on alleged illegal surveillance by the Colombian Military

ABColombia joined with the Colombian Caravana of UK Lawyers and other concerned International organisations and lawyers to write to the Colombian Government about our deep concerned about the recent allegations of the Colombian National Army’s unlawful surveillance activities of 130 individuals, including lawyers of the José Alvear Restrepo Collective(Colectivo de Abogados José Alvear Restrepo – CCAJAR), lawyers of the Inter-church Commission of Justice and Peace (Comisión Intereclesial Justicia y Paz – CIJP); and other human rights defenders such as Luz Marina Cuchumbé and Jani Silva.

According to reports published in the Semana magazine, this was part of a mass surveillance scheme carried out between February and December 2019, during which time General Nicacio de Jesús Martínez de Espinel was Commander-in-Chief. Following Semana’s reporting of illegal surveillance,  the Foundation for Press Freedom (Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa – FLIP) has alleged 14 journalists have been also subject to illegal surveillance, adding 14 new names to the 130 already reported.

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