Free Liliany Obando

Dear friends:  

For your information, we have become aware of an incident involving our friend Kevin Neish, a Canadian human rights observer who is currently in Colombia visiting some political prisoners and observing the trial of Liliany Obando. Her public hearing scheduled for 18/19 & 27^th January was cancelled because the “Fiscalia” (Prosecution) failed to provide a copy of the prosecution evidence against Liliany to her defense team. The case was adjourned until 15/16^th February.

Kevin has been visiting the “El Buen Pastor Women’s prison patio 6” since September 2009 on at least six occasions without any incident. However on Saturday the 23rd of January he was asked to produce a document showing his fingerprint with the argument that his Canadian passport was not sufficient to allow a visit. 

He complained that this was an abuse against the right of the prisoner to receive visitors as the rules were concocted preventing him from having access to Patio 6. Patio 6 is the prison’s yard where the political prisoners are held.

A plain clothed official spoke to him advising he could see a prisoner but in the interview room. The usual custom of prison visits is inside the yard on a normal visiting day. This mode of visitation allows the prisoners some sense of dignity and freedom, as they are able to share their lives and community with their visitors.  The new requirements implemented that day without warning now stand and are applicable to all future International visitors who must have this additional document showing the right thumb fingerprint. Kevin was allowed to visit again on Saturday 30^th January after he produced the newly required document.

We denounce that rules can be changed arbitrarily to obstruct and disrupt visitation rights, a basic human right of the prisoner.

This is just another act of harassment against political prisoners. These prisoners are often the most likely to receive international visits and when those visits are prevented without proper reason it must be seen as an abuse of power. 

This harassment is yet another attempt in a long list to criminalise international solidarity. This list includes the recent questioning of activists in the United States, Canada and Australia, the ongoing 'hate' messages sent via email and the Free Liliany Website. 

• We demand the end to the harassment of political prisoners and their supporters.
• We condemn the attempts to criminalise international solidarity. 
• We call on all supporters and human rights organisations to remain vigilant and demand that the Uribe government end all repression and respect human rights of political prisoners in Colombia.