LAWYER FIGHTS FOR PEACE, HUMAN RIGHTS IN COLOMBIA

HAYWARD -- Rafael Barrios Mendivil knows what it's like to fear for his life.

Mendivil is a lawyer who advocates peace. But he is not considered a hero
by all in his homeland of Colombia.

On Friday night, the exile attorney visited Sunset Community Education
Center to speak about a land he calls one of the world's most dangerous
places to do human rights work.

The lecture was sponsored by Amnesty International, an organization
committed to defending human rights.

Mendivil says he was forced to flee Colombia in August 1999 after increased
death threats.

"About 10 people disappear each day in Colombia," he said. "There are clear
signals, and one has to pay attention to them or die."

Mendivil said he left the country after receiving what he thought was a
subtle threat.

A suspicious motorcyclist arrived at his house last year, asking for him.
His son was at the home, and explained that he did not know his father's
whereabouts. The next day, Mendivil was summoned to meet with a high-level
military officer.

The officer claimed that a woman they both know had warned about an attack
against him, according to Mendivil.

But Mendivil said he and the officer had no mutual friends. He took the
hint and left the country, he said.

Last year, more than 3,500 people were victims of politically motivated
violence, and an estimated 250,000 people were forced to flee their homes,
according to Mendivil.

"Their so-called solutions are not really solutions," he said Friday
through an interpreter at a podium in front of more than 50 people. "How
can their judiciary police patrol each other. It's erroneous -- rights are
being violated by the military organizations themselves."

Mendivil called the governmental system in Colombia "a trap."

"The build-up of arms is actually increasing violence," he said.

Trade unionists, political and social activists and human rights defenders
are among those viewed as targets of "social cleansing," he said.

"Colombia is a beautiful country -- but with a lot of internal conflict,"
he said.

Colombia is a leading exporter of oil, coffee -- and cocaine.

However, Mendivil said that although violence is often associated with
Colombia's large-scale drug trade that dates back to the mid-'70s,
politically motivated killings predate assassinations revolving around drug
trafficking.

Mendivil did give the government some credit.

Colombia has initiated a protection program providing human rights
organizations with bullet-proof vests, bodyguards and frequent travel in
armored cars, he said.

But he said the real solution is finding a way to limit the government's
ability to unjustly punish citizens.

Alex Ma, 37, of El Cerrito, who attended the lecture Friday, said, "I now
have a clear understanding of the situation and problems with the guerrilla
forces over there. Instead of filling the 'hole,' they keep on digging a
bigger 'hole.'