CASE N° CO/122 - OSCAR LIZCANO - COLOMBIA

Resolution adopted without a vote by the Inter-Parliamentary Council
at its 168th session (Havana, 7 April 2001)

The Inter-Parliamentary Council,

Having before it the case of Mr. Oscar Lizcano 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/168/13(c)-R.1), which contains a detailed outline of the case,

Considering the following information as provided by the source:

• Mr. Lizcano was kidnapped by the main Colombian guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), while he was attending the inauguration of a football ground on 5 August 2000 in Riosucio, in the Province of Caldas, the region he represents in Parliament;
• The kidnapping was related to the forthcoming municipal elections since, along with Mr. Lizcano, all the local political candidates were kidnapped,

Noting that, for some time now, the Colombian authorities have been engaged in a process of negotiation with FARC, and that after a two-day meeting on 8 and 9 February 2001, the President of the Republic and the leader of FARC agreed to prolong the existing demilitarised zone for a further eight months, and to negotiate a prisoner exchange and a possible ceasefire,

Noting that the fact of conducting such negotiations puts the Colombian authorities in a position to negotiate the release of those held hostage by the guerrilla forces; the power of the authorities to have someone released when there is sufficient political will already came to the fore in the case of the brother of the main government negotiator with FARC; after his kidnapping, the Government was able to obtain his release within a matter of days; this provides evidence that the Government is in a position to take action to secure respect for the human rights of Mr. Oscar Lizcano,

Recalling that a government is obliged to ensure the safety of all of its citizens and that it must therefore take all necessary action to that effect, irrespective of circumstances,

Stressing that non-compliance with this obligation, by commission or omission, in cases where the safety of citizens is threatened by non-State actors, could amount to a violation of human rights embodied in international human rights instruments,

1. Expresses its deep concern at the kidnapping of Mr. Lizcano by the main guerrilla group, FARC;

2. Urges the Colombian authorities to act, in their negotiations with FARC, with the same determination as shown in an earlier successful attempt to secure the release of high-profile hostages;

3. Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the competent Colombian authorities, inviting them to provide information on the steps taken to secure Mr. Lizcano's release;

4. Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session (September 2001).

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