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COLOMBIA
CASE N° CO/09 - HERNÁN MOTTA MOTTA
Resolution adopted unanimously by the Governing Council
at its 173rd session (Geneva, 3 October 2003)


The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the outline of the case of Senator Hernán Motta Motta of Colombia, as contained in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/173/11(b)?R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 171st session (September 2002),

Recalling that Mr. Motta, a member of the Unión Patriótica, had been receiving death threats which forced him into exile in October 1997; his name was reportedly on a hit list drawn up by the paramilitary group led by Carlos Castaño Gil, who admitted publicly in March 2000 on a private television channel that he personally decided who was to be executed by his group; investigations have been instituted but have remained unavailing,

Having before it the written report on the on-site mission carried out on 31 March and 1 April 2003 for the purpose of putting IPU's concerns about this case to the Colombian authorities and gathering first-hand information from them,

Noting that, following the Santa Fe de Ralito agreement of 15 July 2003 between the authorities and the paramilitary, a bill on their demobilisation was submitted to the National Congress, the provisions of which have been widely criticised for failing to take adequate account of questions of justice and reparation; noting that members of the parliamentary committee studying the bill have publicly stated that they are being pressured by Carlos Castaño to adopt it as it stands,

  1. Thanks the authorities of Colombia and, in particular, the President of the National Congress for their cooperation and for the arrangements made to ensure that the delegation was able, as requested, to travel to Bogotá, meet all concerned parties and enjoy the necessary facilities;

  2. Commends the delegation for its work and fully endorses the findings and recommendations contained in the report;

  3. Nevertheless regrets that, except for the National Conciliation Commission, which expressed full support, the authorities have failed to respond to the report;

  4. Reaffirms that evidence exists which would enable the authorities to pursue the investigation in this case more vigorously; therefore eagerly awaits the substantive information the Attorney General's Office and the Director of its Human and Humanitarian Rights Unit undertook to provide in this respect;

  5. Is convinced that the National Congress of Colombia must take a more active part in ensuring that proper investigations are carried out and in facilitating information-sharing regarding these cases, in particular with the Ombudsman;

  6. Is also convinced that parliamentary human rights committees can be an effective tool in combating impunity if they have the necessary powers and facilities; and calls therefore on the presidency of the National Congress to ensure that the human rights committees in both chambers are granted the necessary powers and facilities to perform their work effectively;

  7. Expresses deep concern at the bill before Congress on the demobilisation of the paramilitary, which, in its present form, includes the option of excessively lenient sanctions for those who have committed crimes under national and international law, and would prevent investigation of the strong leads suggesting that Carlos Castaño was behind the death threats;

  8. Stresses that the internationally recognised human rights principle that amnesties and pardons can only be granted if the right to truth, justice and reparation of victims of human rights violations is respected; calls on the Congress to ensure that the law it adopts is consistent with this paramount principle;

  9. Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the President of the National Congress of Colombia and to the authorities concerned, inviting them to inform the Committee of any action they may have taken to implement its recommendations;

  10. Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session to be held on the occasion of the 110th Assembly.

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