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Protect Human Rights in Colombia

The President and Congress of Colombia recently adopted a law to guide the demobilization of armed groups, beginning with the paramilitary forces. Amnesty International is deeply concerned that this law will result in greater impunity and de facto amnesties for horrific human rights violations committed by Colombia's paramilitary forces.

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Christina Rocca - Assistant Secretary of State

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Dear (recipient name),

I am writing out of deep concern about the demobilization law that will be implemented soon in Colombia.  The so-called Justice and Peace law is weak and riddled with loopholes that may result in greater impunity and de facto amnesties for human rights abuses in Colombia.  I urge you to ensure that no State Department funding is made available for the implementation of this law, and to send a clear message to the government of Colombia that demobilization cannot take place until truth, justice, and reparations are ensured for the victims.

Despite its nice-sounding name, the Justice and Peace law will most likely result in de facto amnesties for many of Colombia’s worst human rights violations. For example, the law provides for maximum sentences of 8 years, even in cases such as the Mapiripan massacre in which approximately 100 paramilitary forces assailed this small town for five days killing as many as 30.  They used machetes and chainsaws to torture and decapitate their victims, and then dumped their bodies -- some still alive -- into the Guaviare River.  The law would allow those responsible for this heinous crime to potentially reduce their sentence by another 18 months, serving as little as 6.5 years.  In addition, the law is unclear about where sentences would be served, and may allow for house arrest.  Worse, the law does not guarantee full and truthful confessions from those who wish to benefit from it and the role of victims is limited to the reparations process after a sentence has been determined.

While the demobilization of Colombia’s armed groups is a laudable goal, Amnesty International believes that the Justice and Peace law could fail to ensure that the victims’ rights to truth, justice and reparations are guaranteed.  Without truth, justice, and reparations the law will not have the intended effect, and may actually worsen security and human rights for all Colombians.  I urge you to ensure that U.S. assistance is not utilized to fund this flawed process, and to send a clear message to the Colombian authorities that the U.S. expects those responsible for gross human rights violations to be held accountable in accordance with Colombia’s international obligations.

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