Carta abierta al Presidente Juan Manuel Santos

Estimado señor Presidente:

Los abajo firmantes nos dirigimos a Ud. para solicitarle la libertad inmediata del académico colombiano Dr. Miguel Ángel Bettrén, El Dr. Beltrán ha estado encarcelado desde mayo de 2009 sin que se le haya probado delito alguno. Ha sido acusado de "rebelión" y tildado de terrorista por ei Estado colombiano; sin embargo, no se ha presentado ninguna prueba que respalde esas acusaciones.

Nos preocupa seriamente el hecho de que, como tantos otros en Colombia, el Dr. Beltrán haya sido detenido por sus opiniones políticas antes que por algún delito, de que se le haya privado de su libertad con el fin de silenciarte y de amedrentar a quienes como él quisieran expresar oposición. Creemos que la libertad académica y la libertad de expresión son derechos fundamentales, y que son los pilares de una sociedad democrática; pero la actual detención del Dr. Beltrán muestra que en Colombia no se está respetando ni la una ni la otra.

Por lo tanto, le instamos a que ordene su libertad inmediata. Ei alto número de presos políticos en las cárceles colombianas - sean académicos, sindicalistas, dirigentes comunitarios u otros activistas de la sociedad civil • desmiente las declaraciones de que el Estado colombiano respeta los derechos humanos. >1

Le instamos a que ponga fin inmediato a esta situación vergonzosa.

Atentamente,

Professor Sir Richard Roberts, Nobel Prize Winner Professor Sir John Bali, Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy, University of Oxford Professor Dame Janet Nelson, Emeritus Professor of History, King's Cotiege London Alan Whitaker, President, University and College Union Terry Hoad, Vice President, University and College Union Dr Sally Hunt, General Secretary, University and College Union

Professor Jane Aaron, University of Glamorgan Professor Andrew Gilbert, University of Exeter Professor Adrián Moore, University of Oxford Professor David Alten, ShefReId Hallam University Professor Helen Gilbert, University of London Professor Gareth Morgan, Sheffekf Hallam University ¡Professor Sarah Ashwin. London School of Economics Professor John Gledhill, University of Manchester Professor Maurice Mulvenna, University of Ul^er Professor Ruth Aytett, Heriot-Watt University Professor Jonathan Glover. King's College London Professor Laura Mulvey, University of London ¡Professor Sebastian Baifour. London School of Economics Professor Femand Gobet, Brunel University Professor Isobel Murray, University of Aberdeen Professor Maicolm Barber. University of Reading Professor Laurence Goldstein, University of Kent Professor Alistair Mutch, Nottingham Trent University ¡Professor Ann-Marie Bathmaker, West of England University Professor Jonathan Gosling, University of Exeter Professor Stephen Nugent, University of London Professor Gargi Bhattacharyya, Aston University Professor Helen Graham, University of London Professor Eric Olson, University of SheffiekJ ¡Professor Andreas Bieler, University of Nottingham Professor Vic Grout, Glyndwr University Professor John O'Neill, University of M»KÍiester ¡Professor Bob Brecher, University of Bnghton Professor Martyn Hammersiey, The Open University Professor Bill Overton, Loughborough Universtty ¡Professor David Broomhead, University of Manchester Professor Richard Hanley, University of Essex Professor Andy Penaluna, Swansea Metropolitan Universtty Professor David Bunce, Brunel University Professor Maicolm Heggie, University of Sussex Professor Hilary Povey, ShefReId Hallam University ¡Professor Alister Burr University of York Professor Piers HellaweII, Queen's University Belfast Professor Paul Prestan, London School of Economrcs ¡Professor Paul Busch, University of York Professor Stephen Hodkinson, University of Nottingham Professor Gesine Reinert, University of Oxford ¡Professor Ray Bush, University of Leeds Professor Martin Hooper, University of Edinburgh Professor Jonathan Rosenhead, London School of E I TWCS Professor Pat Captan, University of London Professor Jim Howie, Heriot-Watt University Professor Raphael Saltee, University (rf Bnghton Professor Anthony Carbery, University of Edinburgh Professor Rhys Jenkins, University of East Anglia Professor Andrew Sayer, Lancaster University ¡professor David Chadvvick, University of Kent Professor Heather Joshi, University of London Professor Michael Shaw, University of Readkig Pifessor Thomas Collett, University of Sussex Professor Anahid Kassabian, University of Liverpool Professor David Simón, University of Lcxidon Professor Heten Colley, Manchester Metropolitan University Professor Christopher Knusel, University of Exeter Professor Martin Sinha, University of Southamptoi Professor Mike Coombes, Newcastle University Professor Ailsa Land, London School of Economics Professor Nick Smimdf, University of Exeter Professor Chnsline Cooper, University oí Strathctyde Professor Vicky Lebeau, University of Sussex Professor Alan Sokal, University College London Professor Greville Corbetí, University of Surrey Professor Robert Lee, University of Liverpool Professor Kirsten Staiker, University of Strathdyde Professor Owen Davies. University of Hertfordshire Professor David Lewis, Middtesex University Professor Trevor Stuart, Imperial Cotiege London ¡Professor Mary Davis, London Metropolitan University Professor Wanda Lewis, University of Warwick Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby, University of Kent ¡Professor Peter Delves, University College London Professor Niall Logan, Glasgow Caiedonían University Professor Ridiard Thomas. Imperial College London Professor Simón Duncan. University of Bradford Professor Stuart Macdonaid, University of Sheffieid Professor Jon Tonge, University of Liverpool Professor Richard Dyer. King's College London Professor Christine MacLeod, University of Bristol Professor Cofín Torrance, Universily of Glamorgan Professor Chns Eiibeck, Henot-Watt University Professor Luke Martell, University of Sussex Professor Joy Townsend, University of London Professor Lawrie Elliotí. Edinburgh Napier University Professor Doreen Massey, The Open University Professor Geofftey Tumer, Univers^ of Shefüeid Professor Tony E varis, University of Southampton Professor Eric Matthews, University oí Aberdeen Professor Carole-Anne Upton. University of Ulster Professor Stephan Feuchtwang, Londw School of Economics Professor Tim May. University of Satford Professor Peter Wade, University of Manchester Professor Jeremy Fieid, University of Sussex Professor Daphne McCulioch, Glasgow Caiedonían University Professor Phitip Wadler, University of Edetaurgh Professor Kart Figlo, University of Essex Professor Mary McMurrai, UniversAy of Nottingham Professor Judy Wajcman, London School of Economics Professor Ra^md Fischman, Keete University Professor Eiizabeth Meehan, Queen's University Belfast Professor Paul Waid. University of Huddersfieid Professor Roóenck Flower, University of London Professor Sara Mills. Sheffieid Hallam University Professor David Wites, Unwerstty d London Professor Steven French, University oí Leeds Professor David Mond, University of Warwick Professor Andrew V\tiffiams, University al Warwick Professxx David George, Swansea Universify Professor James Montgomery, University d Cambridge Professor Jocelyn Wogan-0ro*me, University of York Y más de mil académicos británicos más (Lista completa disponible en www.ucu.ora.uk)