For Immediate Release
U.S. ELECTIONS OBSERVER DETAINED AND DENIED ENTRY INTO COLOMBIA
Bogota, Colombia | May 22, 2022
U.S activist Teri Mattson, Latin American coordinator for CodePink was headed to Colombia to accompany the electoral process and assess the human rights situation in the country. She was invited by one of Colombia’s most prestigious human rights organizations in Colombia, The Permanent Committee for the Defence of Human Rights founded in 1979.
Teri Mattson was detained by Colombian immigration and denied entry into Colombia. The official reason given for denying her entry into the country was that she represented a risk to the state. In the “Administrative decision of non-admission or rejection” it was stated: “For sovereignty reasons, when there are facts or well-founded information indicating that the person represents a risk to the security of the state or the citizen coexistence” their entry must be denied.
Common Frontiers denounces the detainment and deportation of Teri Mattson as politically motivated. Colombia has an alarming human rights crisis and a long history of intimidation and violence connected to elections. We see with grave concern the fact that the Colombian State sees international elections accompaniment and human rights observation as a security risk to the state. Both of these mechanisms of international support are critical and internationally endorsed as a part of ensuring fair and transparent elections.
Teri Mattson is the Latin America Coordinator for CODEPINK, a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism and to support peace and human rights initiatives. In recent years, Teri has overseen elections in five different Latin American countries.
For more information
Raul Burbano – 416 522-8615
