Bermuda has been called upon to help put an end the brutal slayings of human rights activists in Columbia.

Members of Amnesty International sat outside the Bermuda Library on Queen Street for two hours recently, collecting signatures as part of a one-year global campaign to pressure the Columbian government to bring to justice the murderers of human rights activists.

"We have activists who have been killed in broad daylight, people who have walked into their apartments and been killed along with members of their own families,'' said Mrs. Lucy Attride-Stirling, Chairperson of the Bermuda Section of Amnesty International.

"In some cases, the murders of human rights activists have happened five or six years ago, but the government hasn't done anything, in spite of the fact that they know who has committed these crimes.

"The politicians don't want human rights abuses exposed.

"In most instances, the killers have been members of the paramilitary groups or the judicial police. Even though the government know the names of the murderers, they don't arrest and prosecute them because they are protecting their own.'' Mrs. Attride-Stirling is convinced that by joining a worldwide effort, Bermudians can help put an end to the politically motivated slaughter in the South American nation.

"The experience with Amnesty International has always been that the pressure of thousands of letters and signatures sent to governments really works.

Knowing that the world knows exactly what is going on in their country is an embarrassment to them.

"They would just throw out a few letters, but this is a worldwide campaign.

We have proof of experience that this really does help.'' Anyone wishing to sign the petitions in support of Amnesty International's Columbia Human Rights Defenders Campaign may contact the Amnesty International office in Bermuda at 296-3249.