COLOMBIA: Conscientious objector Carlos Andrés Giraldo Hincapié threatened and verbally abused in the military / fear of safetyv

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War Resisters' International received information today that
Colombian conscientious objector Carlos Andrés
Giraldo Hincapié
(COL14911), who has been serving his military
service against his will for more than 10 months now, is being
threatened and verbally abused in the military.

On 31 May 2007, War Resisters' International wrote in a co-alert: "Carlos
Andrés Giraldo Hincapié, who was recruited by force on 4 August 2006
(see co-alert from 24 November 2006),
is now in his 10th month of forced military service, and has 8 more
month to go. While the initial abuse stopped, he is now part of a
military unit that can be sent to combat zones on short notice.
"

However, since then we have been informed that he has been verbally
abused by 1st sergeant Jhon Jairo Cuestas Baron, partly in front of his
entire military unit. Carlos Andrés
Giraldo Hincapié
now fears for his safety in the military, as this
abuse threatens to turn into physical abuse.

Three important legal aspects are to be considered in this case:



1. The way of recruitment. Recruitment is regulated in Colombian law 48
of 1993. While this law requires to "clarify ones military situation
when someone reaches the age of 18" (Art 14). However, failure to do so
can only be punished with a fine (Art 41 and 42). The law does not
specify that in such cases the normal recruitment procedure, as
outlined in Articles 14-21 of the law, does no longer apply. The
recruitment of Carlos Andrés Giraldo Hincapié is therefore illegal even
under Colombian law.

In addition, the forced recruitment of Carlos Andrés Giraldo Hincapié
is a violation of the "right to personal liberty (Article 7), the
protection of human dignity (Article 11) and the right to freedom of
movement (Article 22), guaranteed in the American Convention on Human
Rights, in connection with Article 1.1 of that same legal instrument",
according to a decision of the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights in a very similar case from Guatemala (CASE 10.975, 6 October
1993).

2. His possible reasons for exemption from military service. Article
28 of law 48/1993 defines the reasons for exemption from military
service. Carlos Andrés Giraldo Hincapié father is handicapped (he lost
one arm), his brother is epileptic, and his mother is older than 60
years - which would qualify him for exemption under Art 28 of law
48/1993. Due to the illegal recruitment process, he did not have a
chance to claim this exemption.

3. The right to conscientious objection. Colombia is signatory of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The right to
conscientious objection is recognised by the United Nations Human
Rights Committee as a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of
thought, conscience, and religion, as guaranteed by Article 18 ICCPR.
In fact, in a recent decision on two cases of conscientious objectors
from South Korea, the Human Rights Committee stated that not to provide
for the right to conscientious objection is a violation of Article 18
ICCPR (see CCPR/C/88/D/1321-1322/2004 from 23 January 2007).



So far - after more than 10 months in military service, Carlos Andrés
Giraldo Hincapié has not been able to secure his release from the
military. Therefore, international pressure is necessary.



War Resisters' International calls for letters of support to Carlos
Andrés Giraldo Hincapié:

    Base Militar de Casabe, adscrita al Batallón Plan Energético y Vial
Nº 7 de Barrancabermeja, Colombia



War Resisters' International calls for urgent letters and faxes of
protest to:


Teniente Colonel

Batallón plan energético y vial Nº 7

Att. Luis Miguel Gomez Qunitero

Barrancabermeja, Colombia

Fax +57-7-620 89 23 (call first - we are not sure this number works)

Ministro de Defensa Nacional

Dr Juan Manuel Santos

Avenida El Dorado Carrera 52 OFI.217

Centro Administrativo Nacional (CAN)

Bogota, Colombia

Tel.: +57-1-2660179

Fax: +57-1-266 0351

email: despacho@mindefensa.gov.co

A protest email (in Spanish) can be sent at http://wri-irg.org/co/alerts/20070613a.html.

Defensoria del pueblo Barrancabermeja

Oficina Principal - Dirección: Calle 54 No. 27 - 65 (Barrancabermeja -

Magdalena Medio)

Teléfono: +57-7-6222733 - 6212999 - Fax: +57-5-6212666

Correo electrónico: magdalenamedio@defensoria.org.co

Defensora del pueblo regional: Esperanza Ramírez Castro

A protest email (in Spanish) can be sent at http://wri-irg.org/co/alerts/20070613b.html.

War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of
Carlos Andrés Giraldo Hincapié from military service.

Andreas Speck

War Resisters' International

Archives of co-alert can be found at http://wri-irg.org/news/alerts