IPU Logo-top>>> VERSION FRANÇAISE  
 IPU Logo-middleInter-Parliamentary Union  
IPU Logo-bottomChemin du Pommier 5, C.P. 330, CH-1218 Le Grand-Saconnex/Geneva, Switzerland  

COLOMBIA
CASE N° CO/122 - OSCAR LIZCANO
CASE N° CO/132 - J. EDUARDO GECHEN TURBAY
CASE N° CO/133 - LUIS ELADIO PÉREZ BONILLA
CASE N° CO/134 - ORLANDO BELTRÁN CUÉLLAR
CASE N° CO/135 - GLORIA POLANCO DE LOZADA
CASE N° CO/136 - C. GONZÁLEZ DE PERDOMO
Resolution adopted unanimously by the Governing Council
at its 176th session (Manila, 8th April 2005)


The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of Mr. Oscar Lizcano, Mr. Jorge Eduardo Gechen Turbay, Mr. Luis Eladio Pérez Bonilla, Mr. Orlando Beltrán Cuéllar, Ms. Gloria Polanco de Lozada and Ms. Consuelo González de Perdomo, all former members of the Colombian Congress, as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/176/13(b)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 175th session (October 2004),

Recalling that these six persons were kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) between 5 August 2000 and 23 February 2002, and are still in their hands,

Recalling that, according to information provided by the President of the Colombian Congress in June 2004, the Colombian Congress had in August 2003, in the interests of providing security and monitoring reconciliation with FARC, set up a special committee on the question of a humanitarian agreement, and that it is composed of Senators Francisco Murgueitio Restrepo, José Renán Trujillo García, Dilia Francisca Toro, Samuel Moreno Rojas and Jairo Clopatofski,

Considering that the Government's offer of 18 August 2004 to release unilaterally 50 imprisoned FARC members who are being prosecuted or have been sentenced in absentia ushered in a series of consultations between both parties; that, however, positions between the Government and FARC have recently hardened again,

Bearing in mind that, in her report of February 2005 to the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (E/CN.4/2005/10), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urges that negotiations be opened as soon as possible between the Government and the illegal armed groups to bring hostilities to an end and achieve lasting peace,

  1. Recalls that the taking of civilian hostages is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law, and that FARC is bound by this norm;

  2. Reiterates its conviction that negotiation is the only path to a humanitarian agreement as a first step towards wider negotiations to overcome armed conflict in Colombia;

  3. Is therefore deeply concerned that the latest "rapprochement" between the Government and FARC, which had improved the prospect of a humanitarian agreement, has lost momentum;

  4. Remains convinced that the Congress has an essential role to play in securing a national consensus on the need for a prompt humanitarian agreement; reiterates therefore its wish to ascertain whether the special Congress committee put in place in August 2003 is still in existence and, if so, would greatly appreciate receiving information on its functioning, including whether it has had regular contacts with the families of those kidnapped and has adopted any reports and recommendations;

  5. Requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the competent authorities, the sources and other interested parties;

  6. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 113th IPU Assembly (October 2005).

Note: you can download a complete electronic version of the brochure "Results of the 112th IPU Assembly and related meetings in PDF format (file size 495K approximately ). This version requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download free of charge.Get Acrobat Reader

HOME PAGEred cubeHUMAN RIGHTSred cubeMAIN AREAS OF ACTIVITYred cubeIPU STRUCTURE AND DOCUMENTS