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PLACE DU PETIT-SACONNEX
1211 GENEVA 19, SWITZERLAND

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 162nd session (Windhoek, 11 April 1998)


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/162/11(a)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 161st session (September 1997) concerning the case of Senator Hernán Motta Motta and Congressman Nelson Veloria, of Colombia,

Taking account of the information provided by the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights on 22 December 1997 and 25 March 1998,

Also taking account of information provided by one of the sources on 6 February and 23 March 1998,

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

Also recalling that, according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights, following a complaint, investigations have been launched into the death threats against Senator Motta, but so far with no result; and, as regards the death threats against Mr. Veloria, no complaint has ever been received,

Considering that in September 1997 the source reported an upsurge of death threats against Senator Motta and plans to hinder his parliamentary activities by bringing false charges of collaboration with the " narco-guerrillas " against him and that, as a result, he was forced into exile in October 1997; that in February 1998 the same source reported that paramilitary gangs had come to Bogotá to kill Mr. Veloria, who might therefore also be forced to leave the country,

Recalling also that, according to the source, Senator Motta was not afforded the necessary protection, in particular a bullet-proof car,

Considering in this connection that, according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights, the DAS had, via its Protection Directorate (Dirección de Protección) provided Senator Motta with a detective and a driver from 3 September 1986 until 15 October 1997, when he went into exile; that, as regards Mr. Veloria, the DAS is affording him the services of a detective,

Recalling further its repeated recommendations that, in accordance with the Constitution of Colombia, a statutory law on the status of the opposition be drafted and adopted as soon as possible,

Noting that, in her report of 9 March 1998 regarding the work of the field office in Colombia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the Colombian Government inter alia to " ... conduct independent and exhaustive investigations into all violations of the right to life, bring the culprits to justice and properly compensate their victims in order to put an end to the spiral of violence and impunity ",

1. Thanks the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights for the information supplied and for its co-operation;

2. Is dismayed that Senator Motta was forced into exile, and fears that this may indicate a failure to investigate the death threats thoroughly and to provide adequate protection;

3. Urges the competent authorities to make every effort to identify those responsible for the death threats and bring them to justice, as is their duty, and refers in this connection also to the recommendation made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the aforesaid report;

4. Urges the authorities also to ensure the safety of Mr. Veloria at all times and in all circumstances;

5. Regrets that its recommendation to adopt a statutory law on the political opposition has so far gone unheeded, and reiterates its belief that such legislation might help to dispel the climate of political violence prevailing in Colombia;

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 keep the Committee informed;

(iii) To convey its concerns to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia;

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


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