Clerics condemn Colombia death

THE MURDER of a Colombian human rights activist during a visit to his homeland earlier this month has led several Church leaders to call for an investigation into the incident.
Hebert Marin, a Colombian political refugee who has been working in England since 1980 as a human rights activist and member of the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), returned to Colombia three weeks ago to visit his mother. The day before his scheduled return to England, Mr Marin was kidnapped and 'shot near his hometown of Cali, southwest Colombia.
Marie's murder, which places him. in the ranks of the more than 600 recorded victims of the Colombian security forces, "may have been the result of his involvement with a human rights delegation" visiting Colombia during Mafin's stay.
The delegation, "Americas Watch", went to Colombia on a fact finding mission in an attempt to investigate the charges brought against the government security forces by such international human rights organisations as Amnesty International.
Earlier this year, a similiar delegation, the International Commission of Observers, also visited Colombia on a fact finding mission. The Commission, which included seven members of European parliament and international
agencies, concluded in its report that the Government in Colombia had a culpable record in human rights.
Bishop Victor Guazzelli spoke out against the Colombian Government's human rights record at a Mass to commemorate Hebert Marin on October 12. Joining the bishop in his condemnations of the Colombian regime, the General Secretary of the TGWU, Ron Todd, has asked Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe to seek a judicial investigation into the murder.
According to Mr Marie's brother, moreover, Trade Unions' Congress General Secretary, Norman Willis, has written to Sir Geoffrey Howe about Britian's involvement in selling arms to the Colombian Government.