CLASS

On September 2, 2009, Liliany Obando was visited by David Nelson of the Australian Federal Police (AFP),together with Oscar Leonel Ochoa and Diana Marlene Plaza, both employees of Colombian National Intelligence Agency (DAS). Obando was arrested and jailed on August 8, 2008, charged with two counts of rebellion and managing funds for a terrorist organization

Liliany Obando is a representative of FENSUAGRO, the largest Colombian union of farmers and farm workers, and visited Australia in 2005 and 2007 as part of a solidarity tour which highlighted the human rights abuses that have been perpetrated by the Colombian government. On the day of the visit, the three people mentioned had at first asked to see Obando on the grounds that they were from social services. Once in the interview room, Obando was informed that the interview would be with personnel from the Colombian General Prosecutor’s office.

Obando’s visitors attempted to intimidate her and gather information about individuals and organisations she had met with while visiting Australia during her solidarity tours.

It is well documented that the Colombian government and its military are engaged in human rights abuses, including widespread jailing of human rights activists and trade unionists.

This action by AFP employee David Nelson clearly shows that the Australian government is more than willing to cooperate in the attempted intimidation of political prisoners held by the Colombian government. Further, this attempt to criminalise international solidarity in Australia is an action that must be condemned.

The Australia–Venezuela Solidarity Network (AVSN), which has worked hard to build solidarity with the Venezuelan revolution in Latin America is outraged by the actions of the AFP, which are an attack on all solidarity activists and organisations. Campaigning to defend human rights and organising international solidarity is not a crime and should not be subject to “investigation”.

The AVSN demands that:

* the AFP explain the basis for its cooperation with Colombia’s Uribe administration and its national intelligence agency ;

* the Australian government and the AFP investigate and take action against David Nelson for breaches of international conventions;

* the Australian government suspends its involvement with the Uribe regime until such time as human and trade union rights are protected in Colombia.

For media comment, please contact Roberto Jorquera 0425 182994 or Lisa Macdonald 0413 031108.