The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of Mr. Gustavo Petro Urrego, a member of the Colombian House of Representatives, 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),

Taking account of the communications from the Prosecutor General's Office dated 27 March 2007 and 30 October and 28 December 2006, and from the Human Rights Unit of the Attorney General's Office dated 15 January 2007; taking account also of the information provided by one of the sources on 15 January 2007,

Recalling that Mr. Petro has repeatedly received death threats from paramilitary groups over a long period,

Considering the latest reports from the Attorney General's Office and from the Prosecutor General's Office on action taken in response to these threats:

• The investigation into the threats made in September 2001 was wound up when the statute of limitations expired, after it had been concluded that there was insufficient information on file to conclude that a crime had been committed; in this regard, the authorities highlighted Mr. Petro's failure to provide the further evidence he had undertaken to submit; he was informed that the investigation had been wound up and did not oppose that decision, which became final on 16 February 2006;

• The Commander of the Bloque Tolima of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), demobilized on 22 October 2005, was identified as a suspect regarding the threats against Mr. Petro; the investigation by the Attorney General's Office has been at the preliminary stage since 2004; on 22 January and 12 February 2007, the Commander was heard in Court; the prosecuting authorities had requested further evidence-taking;

• The Prosecutor General's Office examined Mr. Petro's complaint regarding the failure to allocate him an armoured vehicle while other Congress members had more than one, but dismissed it on 12 February 2007,

Considering that Mr. Petro has been a staunch and vocal critic of the Law on Peace and Justice (No. 975 of 2005) and has publicly denounced the infiltration of paramilitary groups into the political arena, and that he recently again received death threats,

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 states that "substantial efforts are still needed to overcome impunity" and that she "strongly hopes that the implementation of the policy of combating impunity will lead to concrete results in the investigation and punishment of human rights violations",

1. Thanks the Attorney General and the Prosecutor General for the extensive information provided;

2. Expresses deep concern at the latest death threats against Mr. Petro; urges the authorities to do everything in their power to identify and bring to justice the culprits as a matter of urgency since this is the only means of effectively preventing such threats and their execution in the future; would appreciate receiving information on steps taken in this regard;

3. Trusts that the authorities have provided Mr. Petro with an effective security detail, and wishes to ascertain the measures involved;

4. Notes that one of the alleged authors of a previous death threat has been identified and is at the disposal of the authorities; trusts that he will be tried without delay and, if found guilty, be punished in accordance with the law;

5. Reaffirms that the Colombian Congress has a special responsibility to ensure that its members can exercise their parliamentary mandate free of any threat or intimidation; is confident that the parliamentary authorities are closely following Mr. Petro's situation to ensure due administration of justice in his case and adequate protection for him; nevertheless deeply regrets the prolonged absence of any information on action taken in this regard;

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

7. 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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