COLOMBIA

CASE N° CO/09 - HERNAN MOTTA MOTTA
CASE N° CO/10 - NELSON VELORIA

Resolution adopted without a vote* by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 161st session
(Cairo, 16 September 1997)

The Inter-Parliamentary Council,

Referring to the outline of the case, as contained in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/161/10(a)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 160th session (April 1997) concerning the case of Senator Hernán Motta Motta and Mr. Nelson Veloria, of Colombia,

Taking account of the information and observations provided by the Colombian delegation to the 98th Inter-Parliamentary Conference (September 1997),

Taking also into account the information provided by one of the sources on 4 September 1997,

Recalling that, according to the source, Mr. Hernán Motta Motta and Mr. Nelson Veloria have for some time been subjected to death threats, their names reportedly being on the " hit list " of the second phase of the Golpe de Gracia plan aimed at eliminating the remaining national leaders of the Patriotic Union,

Considering that, according to the sources, there is currently an upsurge in threats against their lives which has to been seen against the backdrop of the campaign for the next parliamentary elections,

Further recalling its repeated requests for particulars of any steps taken by the Parliament and the Government of Colombia to investigate the existence of the Golpe de Gracia plan,

Recalling also that, according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights, the investigations into the threats against Senator Motta have been unavailing and that " there is no trace of any action following a personal complaint by Senator Motta about death threats or attempts on his life " whereas, according to the sources, Senator Motta filed complaints in this respect at several police stations,

Considering that, according to one of the sources, the Senator is not being provided with the necessary personal protection,

Recalling in this connection that, according to one of the sources, the past assassinations of Congressmen and members of the Patriotic Union reveal the need for a clear political commitment at the highest levels of the Government to put an end to political assassinations and to respect the political opposition,

Also recalling that, in its past resolutions on the Colombian cases, it recommended as a means of demonstrating such commitment that the statutory law regulating the status of the opposition, as provided for in Article 112 of the Constitution of Colombia, be drawn up and adopted as soon as possible,

Considering that the upsurge of political violence in Colombia in connection with the forthcoming local elections in October 1997 has already claimed many lives,

1. Regrets the lack of response of the parliamentary authorities to its repeated requests for information about the prospects for an investigation into the existence of the Golpe de Gracia plan and for the adoption of a statute for the political opposition, as provided for in Article 112 of the Constitution;

2. Believes, particularly in the light of the current situation, that the adoption of such a statute could contribute to easing the climate of political violence in Colombia;

3. Remains deeply concerned at the threats against Senator Motta and Congressman Veloria, and yet again urges the authorities to ensure that those making these threats are identified and prosecuted;

4. Reaffirms that the Colombian State, in common with any other State, has a duty to ensure by every necessary means the physical safety and security of its citizens;

5. Wishes to ascertain the security measures provided for the MPs concerned;

6. Requests the Secretary General:

(i) to convey this decision to the President of the National Congress and of the National Group of Colombia;

(ii) to convey these considerations to the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights, inviting it to transmit the information desired;

(iii) to convey its concerns to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia and seek its views on this matter;

7. Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to continue examining the case and report to it at its next session (April 1998).

*The Colombian delegation expressed reservations with regard to the resolution adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Council.

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