<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>AXWORTHY CONDEMNS MASSACRE IN COLOMBIA</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">June 5, 1998 No. 149</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY CONDEMNS MASSACRE IN COLOMBIA</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today condemned the massacre of 25
civilians by paramilitary forces in Colombia and expressed his serious concerns
about the overall human rights situation in that country.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"We are shocked by this tragic event, and we call on the Government of Colombia
to investigate these assassinations thoroughly," said Mr. Axworthy. "We have
already conveyed our deep concern to the Colombian officials through our embassy
in Bogota."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The victims are civilians who were kidnapped three weeks ago in Barrancabermeja,
site of Colombia's largest oil refinery. The massacre is one of the worst in
recent months by the paramilitaries, who have targeted leftist guerrillas as well
as civilians whom they consider to be sympathizers. This incident follows another
brutal massacre May 5 of 21 civilians in the town of Puerto Alvira, apparently by
paramilitary forces. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">There have also been a number of assassinations of prominent Colombian human
rights defenders including: the April 18 murder of Dr. Eduardo Umaña Mendoza, a
distinguished jurist; the April 13 murder of María Arango, a former political
activist; the February 27 murder of Jesús María Valle, the leading human rights
advocate in the Department of Antioquia; and the May 1997 murders of Mario
Calderón and Elsa Alvarado, members of the Center for Popular Investigation and
Education (CINEP), a prominent human rights organization.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada strongly supports the work of Colombians who are defending human rights
and trying to build a more peaceful society," added the Minister.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Secretary of State (Latin American and Africa) David Kilgour also condemned the
massacre. "When I visited Colombia in late April, I transmitted our serious
concerns regarding human rights abuses," said Mr. Kilgour. "These killings are
senseless and will only undermine efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the
violence in that country."</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
</body>
</html>
