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COLOMBIA
CASE No. CO/122 - OSCAR LIZCANO
CASE No. CO/132 - JORGE EDUARDO GECHEN TURBAY
CASE No. CO/133 - LUIS ELADIO PÉREZ BONILLA
CASE No. CO/134 - ORLANDO BELTRÁN CUÉLLAR
CASE No. CO/135 - GLORIA POLANCO DE LOZADA
CASE No. CO/136 - CONSUELO GONZÁLEZ DE PERDOMO

Resolution adopted unanimously by the IPU Governing Council at its 180th session
(Nusa Dua, Bali, 4 May 2007)


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/180/12(b)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 179th session (October 2006),

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

Recalling that FARC provided proof in September 2006 that their hostages, including the above former parliamentarians, were alive, and that on 28 September 2006 President Uribe accepted FARC's demand that two municipalities in the south-west of the country be demilitarized to permit a humanitarian exchange of the hostages for FARC rebels; on 19 October 2006, a car bomb exploded in a military installation in Bogotá, responsibility for which has not been claimed by anyone or been established by the authorities, whereupon President Uribe ruled out any immediate consultations regarding such an exchange,

Noting that, taking advantage of an exchange of fire between the military and FARC in early January 2007, Mr. Fernando Araújo managed to escape from the captivity in which he had been held by FARC since 2000 and to find his way out of the jungle after a five-day trek, and that the authorities claim that they freed Mr. Araújo, though the latter has reportedly stated that he escaped in the tumult caused by the exchange of fire between the military and FARC; noting also that while, despite opposition from the families, the Colombian Government has publicly stated its intention to free the FARC-held hostages by force, it has also authorized family members to engage in direct contacts with FARC in order to end their captivity and has asked the international commission, composed of representatives of France, Spain and Switzerland, to act in this regard,

Recalling the failed attempt of May 2003 by the authorities to secure the release of hostages through military action, which cost 10 of them their lives,

Noting that, in her March 2007 report on the human rights situation in Colombia (A/HRC/4/48), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights "urges that progress be made in dialogues and negotiations between the Government and the illegal armed groups, in order to overcome the internal armed conflict and achieve lasting peace", while urging "the illegal armed groups to free their hostages immediately and unconditionally",

  1. Remains deeply concerned at the continuing captivity of the six parliamentarians, some for more than six years;

  2. Urges the Colombian Government and FARC to act with the necessary resolve to start and pursue negotiations without delay for the sake of an early humanitarian agreement; and reaffirms in this regard its conviction that lasting solutions can only come about through negotiation;

  3. Deeply regrets the prolonged absence of any information on action taken by the Colombian Congress in this case; and fears that this may denote a lack of interest on its part to play its important role in promoting the conclusion of an agreement and in monitoring any consultations to this end; renews its call on the Congress to make every effort to this end, in particular by establishing a parliamentary body for this purpose and giving it effective terms of reference and adequate resources, and would appreciate receiving the observations of the parliamentary authorities in this respect;

  4. Recalls that taking captive persons who play no active part in hostilities is explicitly prohibited under international humanitarian law, and calls on FARC immediately and unconditionally to release their civilian hostages and to refrain from the unlawful practice of kidnapping;

  5. Requests the Secretary General to inform the authorities and the source accordingly;

  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 117th Assembly (October 2007).
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