Re: Colombia
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2022 1:55 pm
JEP of Colombia: 5,733 people were killed or disappeared in attacks against the Patriotic Union
Of the 5,733 reported victims, 4,616 people were killed, while 1,117 were forcibly disappeared. | Photo: Colprensa
Published 22 April 2022
The Recognition Chamber determined that the violence against the members of the UP was carried out, mainly, by agents of the State and paramilitaries.
The Chamber for the Recognition of Truth and Responsibility of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) of Colombia determined this Friday that some 5,733 people were killed or disappeared during attacks against the Patriotic Union (UP) political movement, between 1984 and 2016.
Through a statement, the JEP detailed that of the total victims, between murdered and disappeared, some 5,195 belonged to the Patriotic Union and another 538 people were not members, but were present when acts of violence against that organization occurred.
"The Recognition Chamber determined that the violence against the members of the UP was carried out, mainly, by State agents and paramilitaries in a massive, generalized and systematic manner," the JEP asserted in the statement.
In addition, it specified that of the 5,733 reported victims, 4,616 people were killed, while 1,117 were forcibly disappeared.
"The Chamber established that the violence against the UP militancy was predominantly lethal, since approximately two out of every three acts of violence against that party resulted in murders and forced disappearances," the entity clarified.
On the other hand, it specified that the second most reported type of victimization was due to formal displacement, which affected 2,217 people. "Based on these data, the Chamber identified that in 32 years of violence against UP militants there was a pattern of sustained violence for 23 years, from 1984 to 2007," the text refers.
According to the results of the analysis, the events were concentrated in three periods: between 1983 and 1993, with a peak recorded in February 1988 and January 1989; then between 1994 and 1999, with a peak from April 1996 to March 1997; and finally between 2000 and 2007, with a peak between July 2001 and June 2002.
Participation of state agents
The Chamber reported that events were identified in which State agents, belonging to Colombian civil and military intelligence agencies, participated "in collusion with paramilitary groups and hitmen's offices that carried out crimes against the UP."
Likewise, it clarifies that these events did not occur in a single region, but that they occurred, mostly, in the capitals of different Colombian departments during the first period of victimization.
"The appearing parties associated with these events were members of the DAS (Administrative Security Department), belonging to the National Directorate, the Public Order and Protection Directorate and the departmental branches of Antioquia and Santander," the entity said.
On the other hand, it reported that the Chamber found that in the other events that occurred, grouped in the critical periods and territories, "there was a systematic contribution by state agents belonging to operational units of the Public Force, even when the material execution of the crimes was carried out by account of paramilitary groups".
The Chamber stated that the violence that affected the militants of the Patriotic Union occurred, unlike other macro-cases, because all the victims had in common that they belonged to, were active in, or sympathized with a political party.
https://www.telesurtv.net/news/colombia ... -0021.html
Google Translator
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Colombia: Former Soldiers Admit Farmers' Extrajudicial Killings
Colombian ex-Corporal Nestor Gutierrez (R) admits crimes before victims' relatives, April 26, 2022. | Photo: Twitter/ @EEColombia2020
Published 27 April 2022 (20 hours 54 minutes ago)
"Higher commands pressured us and demanded results. We had to look for results no matter what," former Corporal Nestor Guillermo Gutierrez admitted.
In a public hearing before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) held on Tuesday, a group of eleven retired soldiers admitted their participation in the extrajudicial killings of farmers that took place during counterinsurgency operations in the 2000s.
During these operations, members of the Colombian army executed rural inhabitants to pass them off as guerrillas killed in combat. This practice is known in Colombia as "false positives."
"Higher commands pressured us and demanded results. We had to look for results no matter what. We had contact with paramilitary groups, especially in the Aguachica region, to get weapons," retired Corporal Nestor Guillermo Gutierrez admitted.
"I took away your children's illusion. I tore mothers' hearts due to the pressure to obtain false results and to keep a government happy. It's not fair," Gutierres said in response to the claim of a mother asking for explanations for the murder of her son.
For his part, former Major Daladier Rivera Jacome said he was attending the meeting "to acknowledge responsibility as co-author for war crimes and crimes against humanity."
During the JEP hearing, the relatives of the victims also had the opportunity to speak. For example, Alvaro Marulanda, who has been searching for the truth about his brother's murder for the last 14 years, told the ex-military to remember the injustice committed against Martin Marulanda, a vulnerable person who was a psychiatric patient.
"You are a dishonor to the Homeland and the National Army," he said and asked other ex-soldiers who are being investigated to reveal the whole truth in the "False Positive" case.
In Colombia, extrajudicial executions of civilians have been taking place for decades. The current investigation, however, is focused on the murders that occurred after a 2005 Defense Ministry Decree, which created a program of economic incentives for soldiers who "showed" positive results in the fight against insurgent forces.
The legitimization of State terrorism happened during the administration of Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010), a far-right politician who has been criminally linked to paramilitary groups.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Col ... -0009.html
Colombia: Former President Alvaro Uribe to Trial for Bribery
Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe | Photo: EFE/ Juan Zarama
Published 27 April 2022
On Wednesday, a Colombian judge denied the attorney general's office's request to shelve a witness-tampering investigation against former President Alvaro Uribe.
After completing more than 10 hours of hearings, the 28th judge of knowledge of Bogota, Carmen Helena Ortiz, ruled that the former senator Álvaro Uribe must go to trial for bribery of witnesses and procedural fraud. According to Ortiz, 'It is not admissible for the office that without contradiction in a trial there is talk of preclusion of procedural fraud in the case of Racumín.'
This determination marks a critical point in the process against the former president. Not only because it means that it will be a judge who will determine whether he is guilty or innocent, but also because the Prosecutor's Office itself had said that the process should be closed (instead of going to trial). On the contrary, the victims had asked the judge not to close it and authorize the process to go forward to trial. Upon reviewing the case, Ortiz determined that the victims were right and the investigation could not be closed.
Since the process was not precluded, Uribe's defense can appeal the decision before the Superior Court of Bogotá, which now has the final word on the complaint.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Col ... -0020.html
Who Ruled Extrajudicial Murders? - Colombian Families Ask
Relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings hug themselves during a public hearing, Colombia, April 2022. | Photo: Twitter/ @santiagoangelp
Published 27 April 2022 (11 hours 5 minutes ago)
Soldiers, don't allow other people to remain free while you stay with all this weight. Tell us who gave the order to murder our sons," urged Blanca Monroy, the mother of victim Julian Oviedo.
In a public hearing before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) held on Wednesday, relatives of victims of extrajudicial executions committed by Colombian soldiers asked perpetrators to reveal who ordered the murders.
"Don't allow other people to remain free while you stay with all this weight. Tell us who gave the order to murder our sons," said Blanca Monroy, the mother of victim Julian Oviedo.
With these killings, known in Colombia as "false positive," soldiers intended to report dead civilians as guerrilla fighters killed in combat to earn promotions and economic incentives.
During the April 27 JEP hearing, one civilian and ten retired soldiers took responsibility for 120 extrajudicial killings that took place the administration of Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010), a far-right politician who has been criminally linked to paramilitary groups.
"I planned and delivered weapons so that innocent young men who had dreams and were loved by their families were murdered," said retired Sargent Sandro Mauricio Perez, calling himself "a monster" who committed the crimes to please superiors.
"With great pain for the abominable crimes committed by my subordinates, I present my regret for not having acted more diligently," said retired general Paulino Coronado, the highest-ranking official to admit his role in the killings.
Dozens of former officers convicted for “false positive” cases have testified before the JEP with the hope of receiving lighter sentences and serving them in better prison conditions in exchange for full disclosure of their crimes. Many others, however, have refused to testify.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Who ... -0019.html
Of the 5,733 reported victims, 4,616 people were killed, while 1,117 were forcibly disappeared. | Photo: Colprensa
Published 22 April 2022
The Recognition Chamber determined that the violence against the members of the UP was carried out, mainly, by agents of the State and paramilitaries.
The Chamber for the Recognition of Truth and Responsibility of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) of Colombia determined this Friday that some 5,733 people were killed or disappeared during attacks against the Patriotic Union (UP) political movement, between 1984 and 2016.
Through a statement, the JEP detailed that of the total victims, between murdered and disappeared, some 5,195 belonged to the Patriotic Union and another 538 people were not members, but were present when acts of violence against that organization occurred.
"The Recognition Chamber determined that the violence against the members of the UP was carried out, mainly, by State agents and paramilitaries in a massive, generalized and systematic manner," the JEP asserted in the statement.
In addition, it specified that of the 5,733 reported victims, 4,616 people were killed, while 1,117 were forcibly disappeared.
"The Chamber established that the violence against the UP militancy was predominantly lethal, since approximately two out of every three acts of violence against that party resulted in murders and forced disappearances," the entity clarified.
On the other hand, it specified that the second most reported type of victimization was due to formal displacement, which affected 2,217 people. "Based on these data, the Chamber identified that in 32 years of violence against UP militants there was a pattern of sustained violence for 23 years, from 1984 to 2007," the text refers.
According to the results of the analysis, the events were concentrated in three periods: between 1983 and 1993, with a peak recorded in February 1988 and January 1989; then between 1994 and 1999, with a peak from April 1996 to March 1997; and finally between 2000 and 2007, with a peak between July 2001 and June 2002.
Participation of state agents
The Chamber reported that events were identified in which State agents, belonging to Colombian civil and military intelligence agencies, participated "in collusion with paramilitary groups and hitmen's offices that carried out crimes against the UP."
Likewise, it clarifies that these events did not occur in a single region, but that they occurred, mostly, in the capitals of different Colombian departments during the first period of victimization.
"The appearing parties associated with these events were members of the DAS (Administrative Security Department), belonging to the National Directorate, the Public Order and Protection Directorate and the departmental branches of Antioquia and Santander," the entity said.
On the other hand, it reported that the Chamber found that in the other events that occurred, grouped in the critical periods and territories, "there was a systematic contribution by state agents belonging to operational units of the Public Force, even when the material execution of the crimes was carried out by account of paramilitary groups".
The Chamber stated that the violence that affected the militants of the Patriotic Union occurred, unlike other macro-cases, because all the victims had in common that they belonged to, were active in, or sympathized with a political party.
https://www.telesurtv.net/news/colombia ... -0021.html
Google Translator
******************************
Colombia: Former Soldiers Admit Farmers' Extrajudicial Killings
Colombian ex-Corporal Nestor Gutierrez (R) admits crimes before victims' relatives, April 26, 2022. | Photo: Twitter/ @EEColombia2020
Published 27 April 2022 (20 hours 54 minutes ago)
"Higher commands pressured us and demanded results. We had to look for results no matter what," former Corporal Nestor Guillermo Gutierrez admitted.
In a public hearing before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) held on Tuesday, a group of eleven retired soldiers admitted their participation in the extrajudicial killings of farmers that took place during counterinsurgency operations in the 2000s.
During these operations, members of the Colombian army executed rural inhabitants to pass them off as guerrillas killed in combat. This practice is known in Colombia as "false positives."
"Higher commands pressured us and demanded results. We had to look for results no matter what. We had contact with paramilitary groups, especially in the Aguachica region, to get weapons," retired Corporal Nestor Guillermo Gutierrez admitted.
"I took away your children's illusion. I tore mothers' hearts due to the pressure to obtain false results and to keep a government happy. It's not fair," Gutierres said in response to the claim of a mother asking for explanations for the murder of her son.
For his part, former Major Daladier Rivera Jacome said he was attending the meeting "to acknowledge responsibility as co-author for war crimes and crimes against humanity."
During the JEP hearing, the relatives of the victims also had the opportunity to speak. For example, Alvaro Marulanda, who has been searching for the truth about his brother's murder for the last 14 years, told the ex-military to remember the injustice committed against Martin Marulanda, a vulnerable person who was a psychiatric patient.
"You are a dishonor to the Homeland and the National Army," he said and asked other ex-soldiers who are being investigated to reveal the whole truth in the "False Positive" case.
In Colombia, extrajudicial executions of civilians have been taking place for decades. The current investigation, however, is focused on the murders that occurred after a 2005 Defense Ministry Decree, which created a program of economic incentives for soldiers who "showed" positive results in the fight against insurgent forces.
The legitimization of State terrorism happened during the administration of Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010), a far-right politician who has been criminally linked to paramilitary groups.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Col ... -0009.html
Colombia: Former President Alvaro Uribe to Trial for Bribery
Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe | Photo: EFE/ Juan Zarama
Published 27 April 2022
On Wednesday, a Colombian judge denied the attorney general's office's request to shelve a witness-tampering investigation against former President Alvaro Uribe.
After completing more than 10 hours of hearings, the 28th judge of knowledge of Bogota, Carmen Helena Ortiz, ruled that the former senator Álvaro Uribe must go to trial for bribery of witnesses and procedural fraud. According to Ortiz, 'It is not admissible for the office that without contradiction in a trial there is talk of preclusion of procedural fraud in the case of Racumín.'
This determination marks a critical point in the process against the former president. Not only because it means that it will be a judge who will determine whether he is guilty or innocent, but also because the Prosecutor's Office itself had said that the process should be closed (instead of going to trial). On the contrary, the victims had asked the judge not to close it and authorize the process to go forward to trial. Upon reviewing the case, Ortiz determined that the victims were right and the investigation could not be closed.
Since the process was not precluded, Uribe's defense can appeal the decision before the Superior Court of Bogotá, which now has the final word on the complaint.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Col ... -0020.html
Who Ruled Extrajudicial Murders? - Colombian Families Ask
Relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings hug themselves during a public hearing, Colombia, April 2022. | Photo: Twitter/ @santiagoangelp
Published 27 April 2022 (11 hours 5 minutes ago)
Soldiers, don't allow other people to remain free while you stay with all this weight. Tell us who gave the order to murder our sons," urged Blanca Monroy, the mother of victim Julian Oviedo.
In a public hearing before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) held on Wednesday, relatives of victims of extrajudicial executions committed by Colombian soldiers asked perpetrators to reveal who ordered the murders.
"Don't allow other people to remain free while you stay with all this weight. Tell us who gave the order to murder our sons," said Blanca Monroy, the mother of victim Julian Oviedo.
With these killings, known in Colombia as "false positive," soldiers intended to report dead civilians as guerrilla fighters killed in combat to earn promotions and economic incentives.
During the April 27 JEP hearing, one civilian and ten retired soldiers took responsibility for 120 extrajudicial killings that took place the administration of Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010), a far-right politician who has been criminally linked to paramilitary groups.
"I planned and delivered weapons so that innocent young men who had dreams and were loved by their families were murdered," said retired Sargent Sandro Mauricio Perez, calling himself "a monster" who committed the crimes to please superiors.
"With great pain for the abominable crimes committed by my subordinates, I present my regret for not having acted more diligently," said retired general Paulino Coronado, the highest-ranking official to admit his role in the killings.
Dozens of former officers convicted for “false positive” cases have testified before the JEP with the hope of receiving lighter sentences and serving them in better prison conditions in exchange for full disclosure of their crimes. Many others, however, have refused to testify.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Who ... -0019.html