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 164th session (Brussels, 16 April 1999)

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/164/13(b)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 163rd session (September 1998) concerning the case of Senator Hernán Motta Motta and Congressman Nelson Veloria, of Colombia,

Noting that the investigation launched in 1995 into death threats against Senator Motta has still not reached any conclusion, in common with the preliminary investigation (N° 32695) concerning the allegations of violations of the human rights of members and sympathisers of the Colombian Communist Party and the Patriotic Union lodged on 29 January 1998 by Senator Motta, among others,

Noting that the death threats against Mr. Veloria have, according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights, been investigated in order to meet the concerns of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, but that Mr. Veloria has not replied to inquiries as to whether he wishes the Union to continue examining his case,

Noting that the Colombian authorities contacted by the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians have not supplied the Committee with any fresh information,

Having nevertheless heard the delegation of Colombia to the 101st Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

1. Notes that Mr. Motta, who is at present living outside Colombia, has signified that he wishes examination of his case to continue in order to identify and punish those responsible for the death threats against him; considers that such a request is in line with the Union's action to combat impunity;
2. Notes that, on the other hand, the fact that Mr. Veloria has failed to reply to the repeated inquiries addressed to him seems to indicate conclusively that he does not feel it necessary that his case should continue to be examined, and decides therefore to close the file where he is concerned;
3. Thanks the delegation of Colombia for its diligent co­operation and is confident that, as it pledged before the Committee, it will take the necessary steps both to make known the precise progress of the investigations and to inform the National Congress of the Union's concerns regarding the risks of impunity;
4. Requests the Secretary General to continue gathering information on Mr. Motta's case, and invites the Committee to report to it on the case at its next session (October 1999).

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