CARTA ENVIADA A URIBE POR EL SINDICATO AUSTRALIANO DE LA EDUCACION TERCIARA

23 April, 2010

Señor Presidente Àlvaro Uribe Vélez
Presidente de la República
Palacio de Nariño
Carrera 8 No.7-26
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA

Email: auribe@presidencia.gov.co

Excelentisimo Sr. Presidente Uribe,
Re: Dr Miguel Angel Beltrán

I am writing to you on behalf of the National Tertiary Education Union of Australia (NTEU) which represents 26,000 staff employed in Australian universities and is an affiliate of Education International.

We are very concerned about the case of Colombian academic Dr Miguel Angel Beltrán who has been detained under high security since May 2009. We understand that his trial commenced on 12 April 2010, and are extremely concerned that the case may be predetermined and not be conducted in a fair or transparent manner.

It is our belief that Miguel Angel Beltrán is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for his public comments and research on the political situation in Colombia, and we reject Government claims that he is a “guerilla”, “a recruiter of terrorists” and “in concert to break the law with terrorists”. We strongly condemn the actions of the Colombian authorities in detaining Miguel Angel Beltrán for an extensive period of time without charge as a violation of his fundamental human right to freedom of expression and to academic freedom.

NTEU would like you to note the support for Miguel Angel Beltrán from other NGOs including the Universities and Colleges Union – United Kingdom (UCU UK) and the Latin American Sociology Association (ALAS), and respectfully urge you to ensure that independent international observers are allowed to be present at Miguel Angel Beltrán’s trial.

We trust this matter will receive your most urgent attention.
Yours sincerely,

GRAHAME MCCULLOCH
General Secretary


cc The Hon. Stephen Smith, MP - Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)
Mr Fred van Leeuwen, General Secretary, Education International

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