Colombia, 7/26/2026

July 26, 2026

Dear President Petro and Attorney General Camargo:

We are writing with urgent concern for the safety of Alicia Ipia Ramos, a Nasa Indigenous governor, along with her family.  On July 18 at 9:30pm, two men arrived by motorcycle at her home on the Indigenous reservation Jerusalén San Luis Alto Picudito, located in the hamlet of La Mariposa, 15 minutes by road from the urban center of Puerto Umbría along the River Guineo in Putumayo Department.

The two men called for Alicia from outside the house.  Her daughter replied that she was not home. As they left toward Puerto Umbría, the men warned, "We'll return later and pay her a proper visit." The daughter fled and hid in the woods.  Members of the Indigenous Guard found her and took her to a safe place.

This is just another serious incident involving attacks, threats, surveillance, and intimidation against the authorities of Jerusalén San Luis Alto Picudito Indigenous Reserve in recent weeks. On multiple dates spanning from June 23 to July 18, the governor and her security team witnessed men loitering around her home, keeping an intent eye on her at events, and stealing a vehicle from a member of the community at gunpoint after threatening them.

July 1: A worker from the Nasa authority observed a person hiding in vegetation close to the governor’s house. Upon being discovered, the person left the area.

July 5: A member of the San Luis Alto Picudito Indigenous Reserve observed three individuals dressed in black loitering near her home.  Realizing that they had been spotted, the three individuals left.

July 6: Drivers of the governor’s protection vehicle saw a man dressed in black emerging from the lower level of her house.  Upon noticing the vehicle's arrival, the man fled the scene.

July 15: While Indigenous authorities were performing a harmonization ritual along the Caliyaco River, they were watched by unknown men, one of whom fired a weapon at them. Fortunately, the security detail with the Indigenous authorities was able to help them evacuate safely. At the same location the previous afternoon, security personnel noticed a man hiding about ten meters away, who then fled upon being discovered.

Because of these ongoing incidents of surveillance, intimidation and threats, we urge that authorities

• consult with authorities of Jerusalén San Luis Alto Picudito to create and implement a protection scheme for their leaders, including Alicia Ipia Ramos and her family
• conduct a thorough investigation to find and hold accountable the men who sought out the governor at her home

Sincerely,

Brian J. Stefan Szittai               

Co-Coordinator

copies:     

Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace ~ via email

Daniel García-Peña Jaramillo, Ambassador of Colombia to the US ~ via email

IACHR (Inter-American Commission on Human Rights): Rapporteurs José Luis Caballero Ochoa (Colombia), Riyad Insanally (Rights of Indigenous Persons )

UN: Scott Campbell, Representative in Colombia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ~ via email

US Embassy: Hugo Guevara (Chargé d’Affaires) ~ via email

US State Department: Desk Officer for Colombia ~ via email

US Senators from Ohio: Husted and Moreno ~ via email

US Representatives from Ohio: Beatty, Brown, Jordan, Joyce, Kaptur, Latta, Miller, Rulli, Sykes  ~ via email

19 JUL 2026_JusticiayPaz_Colombia