Event in DC: Spying on Democracy- Colombia's Intelligence Scandal

From the Washington Office on Latin America:

Spying on Democracy: Colombia's Intelligence Scandal

Featuring:

Rafael Barrios, José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Association
Iván Cepeda Castro, National Movement for Victims of State Crimes
Conor Carrigan, Colombian Commission of Jurists
Hollman Morris, Journalist
Danilo Rueda, Intereclesial Commission for Justice and Peace

In May 2009, Colombian media revealed that the Colombian security agency that answers to the Colombian President, the DAS, conducted systematic surveillance against hundreds of persons belonging to human rights organizations, the political opposition, trade unions and judges, journalists and clergy. This illegal operation, which began in 2004, included routine surveillance of victims and their families by DAS agents, warrantless wiretapping, email interceptions, examination of bank and tax records, and break ins into homes and offices. Victims of this intelligence operation apparently were targeted because they were perceived to present a challenge to the Colombian government. Supreme Court judges, for example, were spied upon after they opened investigations into allegations of links between legislators and paramilitary groups. The DAS went beyond surveillance to carrying out acts of intimidation and death threats against those targeted by this operation. This event brings together various prominent Colombian jurists, journalists and others targeted by the DAS operation to discuss this scandal's influence on Colombian politics, the security of the victims and U.S. policy and programs towards Colombia.

English translation will be provided

Thursday, July 30, 2009
10:30am-12pm
Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
1666 Connecticut Ave, 4^th Floor conference room
Washington, DC

Please RSVP to Rachel Robb, (202) 797-2171 or rrobb@wola.org by July, 28, 2009.