CSJ DETERMINES ARAUCA CASE TO BE HANDLED BY

UNCLAS BOGOTA 011756 SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR - CLATANOFF LABOR FOR ILAB - JORGE PEREZ-LOPEZ GENEVA FOR CHAMBERLIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM ELAB PINR PTER PGOV ETRD KJUS CO SUBJECT: CSJ DETERMINES ARAUCA CASE TO BE HANDLED BY CIVILIAN JUDICIARY REF: A. BOGOTA 8193 ¶B. BOGOTA 7901 ¶C. BOGOTA 4633 ¶1. On November 11, the Supreme Council of the Judiciary (CSJ) determined that the Prosecutor General's Office ("Fiscalia") will maintain control of and continue to investigate the August 5 deaths of three trade unionists killed in Saravena, Arauca Department, by members of the Colombian Army's 18th Brigade. ¶2. The ruling officially grants jurisdiction over the case to the civilian justice system, removing any possibility that the case will be investigated exclusively by the military itself. Post will continue to monitor the investigation and report any further developments. WOOD