Case N° CO/09 - HERNAN MOTTA MOTTA - COLOMBIA

Resolution adopted without a vote by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 158th session
(Istanbul, 20 April 1996)

The Inter-Parliamentary Council,

Having before it the case of Senator Hernán Motta Motta, a member of the Parliament of Colombia, which has been the subject of a study and report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, in accordance with the "Procedure for the examination and treatment by the Inter-Parliamentary Union of communications concerning violations of human rights of parliamentarians",

Taking note of the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/158/13(a)-R.1), which contains a detailed outline of the case,

Taking into consideration the communication of 22 January 1996 from the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights,

Considering that Senator Hernán Motta Motta, an incumbent member of the Colombian Parliament and member of the Patriotic Union, took the parliamentary seat of Senator Manuel Cepeda, who was assassinated in August 1994, and that he is currently the only remaining parliamentarian belonging to that party,

Considering that, according to the source, he has been receiving death threats and that his name appears on a list drawn up by the "Self-defence organization of Colombian farmers: Henry Pérez" ("Organización de autodefensa de los campesinos de Colombia: Henry Pérez"), which "tried and sentenced him to death" along with other persons,

Considering that, on 11 January 1996, the source reported that in December 1995 human rights organizations of the Meta region in south-east Colombia denounced the fact that Víctor Carranza, a paramilitary leader, was training "sicarios" (hired killers) in the municipalities of Puerto López and Puerto Gaitán to kill the remaining national leaders of the Patriotic Union,

Considering that, according to the source, the Government, through the Ministry of the Interior, has engaged in negotiations with paramilitary groups with the aim of reintegrating them into civilian life, which might result in their enjoying amnesty and total impunity,

Considering that in its communication of 22 January 1996 the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights stated that, under an agreement concluded between the Administrative Department for Security and the Patriotic Union, the Senator is provided with an armed escort,

1. Thanks the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights for the information it provided;

2. Is extremely alarmed at this new threat to the life of a member of the Colombian Parliament;

3. Recalls that it is the responsibility of the State to ensure the security of its citizens, including their elected representatives, and urges the Colombian authorities to do everything in their power to protect the life and security of Senator Motta;

4. Wishes to ascertain whether investigations into the death threats have been instituted with a view to identifying and punishing those making the threats, together with any result;

5. Wishes also to know what steps are being taken by the competent authorities to investigate the allegations made and in particular, with a view to securing their preventive detention, to determine the whereabouts of Víctor Carranza and the sicarios he is allegedly training;

6. Would appreciate information on the nature and aim of the negotiations with paramilitary groups which the Government of Colombia has reportedly initiated;

7. Requests Senator Hugo Batalla, Vice-Chairperson of the Committee, to establish contact with the appropriate Colombian authorities with a view to initiating a dialogue regarding this case;

8. Further requests the Secretary General to convey these considerations to the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights, inviting him to supply the requested information;

9. Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to continue examining the case and to report to it at its next session (September 1996).