COLOMBIA: Groups rally to free imprisoned professor

[Judi Lynn]

COLOMBIA: Groups rally to free imprisoned professor
Eileen Travers
17 October 2010

Education International, a Belgium-based global teachers' federation, has ramped up its protest against the incarceration of Colombian professor and trade unionist Miguel Beltrán by launching an online petition to free him. The petition went online after its launch on 10 September at the International Conference on Higher Education and Research in Vancouver, Canada.

Beltrán was tried last year by the Colombian government on charges of 'rebellion' and 'breaking the law for terrorist purposes'. There is no evidence to support the allegations against him, say the organisations that have been gathering signatures across the globe to demand his release.

Beltrán was deported from Mexico in 2008 by the Colombian government for suspected involvement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, commonly known as FARC.

Education International has repeatedly condemned abuses of teachers' human and trade union rights in Colombia. As part of its campaign to release Beltrán, the organisation has written an open letter to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and to the Colombian embassy in Belgium, calling for Beltrán's unconditional release.

More:
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20101015201924215