In 1975 Héctor moved to the city of Barrancabermeja, where he worked as a university professor. He lived in a working-class neighborhood and was elected as representative to the city s Civic Committee. He was elected to its board of directors, at a time when that committee expressed its agreement and solidarity with an oil worker's strike.

In 1979 and 1980, he worked for the International Labor Organization (ILO) in research and actions with migrant workers. Around that time began to work with the Pasto Indigenous Nation and he has been working as an advisor for indigenous and small farmers organizations ever since. As a consequence of this work, he received four death threats and there was one attempt to kidnap both him and his son.

He assisted the Nukak Indigenous Nation when their lands and lives became threatened by oil exploration, and the encroachment of cattle and coca farms. This led to harassment by the local and national government and a guerrilla group.

Héctor has worked as a consultant for members of the Colombian Congress as well as for the 1991 National Constituent Assembly. He helped draft legislation to address indigenous rights, peasants rights, and human rights. He was an adviser for two congressmen: one a human rights lawyer; and the other, an indigenous representative.

International entities, such as the Organization of American States and the World Bank, have occasionally contracted him as a consultant for issues related to indigenous rights and the rights of small farmers.

In August 1996 the indigenous peoples of Colombia designated Héctor as their representative in the Indigenous Territories Commission. In 1998, due to the threats against his children, his family was forced to travel to Spain for several months, and since then Héctor has not been able to work publicly.

Though he resumed his work as adviser to the National Council of Small Farmers in July 2000, he cannot go to his office and must work in hiding. In August 1999, Héctor Mondragón s name appeared, along with 19 other human rights defenders, on a black list distributed on the streets of Bogotá.

Héctor continues his work but changes houses weekly and travels frequently. On April 7th he supported the indigenous peoples protest of solidarity with Embera Katfo and U waa nations. He also analyzed "Plan Colombia" and wrote a report for the "Project Counseling Scrviecs for Latin American Refugees." New threats agninst Héctor and sixty human rights defenders occurred in April and May 2000. Unknown persons followed him through the streets of Bogotá in May.

He was the Oak Human Rights Fellow 2000 of Colby College in Maine and traveled in U.S. from August until December last year. Along with millions of Colombians, Héctor continues to struggle peacefully for the poor, the indigenous, small farmers, workers and human rights. He says: "They deserve all our sacrifice, even if that includes the sacrifice of our own lives".

Hector's May 2001 tour in Eastern Pennsylvania is sponsored by Witness for Peace. For further information, contact John Mateyko, WFP Regional Coordinator, (302) 645-2657 or see the WFP www.witnessforpeace.org.