Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BOGOTA7217
2006-08-08 22:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
CORRECTED COPY: INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0023 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #7217 2202236 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 082236Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7723 INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 8034 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ AUG LIMA 4103 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4758 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 3628 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1366
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007217
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM CO
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY: INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN
RIGHTS RULES AGAINST GOC; STATE TO COMPLY
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
-------
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007217
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM CO
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY: INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN
RIGHTS RULES AGAINST GOC; STATE TO COMPLY
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) In a July 1 opinion, the Inter-American Court of Human
Rights held the GOC responsible for failing to prevent
paramilitary killings of 19 persons in Antioquia Department
in 1997 and ordered the GOC to pay the victims' family
members approximately 1.4 million USD in compensation. The
GOC has committed to respect the ruling. End Summary.
--------------
UNANIMOUS DECISION AGAINST GOC
--------------
2. (U) On July 1, six judges on the Inter-American Court of
Human Rights ruled the GOC was responsible for failing to
prevent paramilitaries from killing 19 persons in La Granja
and El Aro, Antioquia in 1997. The Court's decision
obligates the GOC to pay approximately 1.4 million USD to the
victims' family members, establish a comprehensive assistance
plan for those displaced during the massacres, implement
human rights training for its security forces, apologize
publicly for the occurrence, and reopen investigations.
According to the opinion, the GOC has one year to implement
the decision and report back to the Court. The Court also
recommended the GOC consider paramilitary leader Salvatore
Mancuso's role in the massacre in processing his
demobilization and determining sentencing under the Justice
and Peace Law (J&P).
-------------- --------------
GOC STATES IT WILL RESPECT RULING, J&P LAW TO HELP
-------------- --------------
3. (C) In a July 28 communiqu following the decision, the
GOC said, "Colombia, as always, will honor its international
obligations and will act accordingly." Referring to the J&P
process by which paramilitaries are obliged to account for
their victims, the communiqu stated the J&P law would help
in "clarifying responsibilities in the acts and preventing a
repetition of them," a sentiment that Vice President
Francisco Santos subsequently echoed publicly. Carlos
Franco, Director of the Presidential Program for Human
Rights, told Poloff the decision recognized several advances
by the GOC in human rights, treatment of paramilitaries, the
internal justice system, and the fight against impunity.
WOOD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM CO
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY: INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN
RIGHTS RULES AGAINST GOC; STATE TO COMPLY
Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) In a July 1 opinion, the Inter-American Court of Human
Rights held the GOC responsible for failing to prevent
paramilitary killings of 19 persons in Antioquia Department
in 1997 and ordered the GOC to pay the victims' family
members approximately 1.4 million USD in compensation. The
GOC has committed to respect the ruling. End Summary.
--------------
UNANIMOUS DECISION AGAINST GOC
--------------
2. (U) On July 1, six judges on the Inter-American Court of
Human Rights ruled the GOC was responsible for failing to
prevent paramilitaries from killing 19 persons in La Granja
and El Aro, Antioquia in 1997. The Court's decision
obligates the GOC to pay approximately 1.4 million USD to the
victims' family members, establish a comprehensive assistance
plan for those displaced during the massacres, implement
human rights training for its security forces, apologize
publicly for the occurrence, and reopen investigations.
According to the opinion, the GOC has one year to implement
the decision and report back to the Court. The Court also
recommended the GOC consider paramilitary leader Salvatore
Mancuso's role in the massacre in processing his
demobilization and determining sentencing under the Justice
and Peace Law (J&P).
-------------- --------------
GOC STATES IT WILL RESPECT RULING, J&P LAW TO HELP
-------------- --------------
3. (C) In a July 28 communiqu following the decision, the
GOC said, "Colombia, as always, will honor its international
obligations and will act accordingly." Referring to the J&P
process by which paramilitaries are obliged to account for
their victims, the communiqu stated the J&P law would help
in "clarifying responsibilities in the acts and preventing a
repetition of them," a sentiment that Vice President
Francisco Santos subsequently echoed publicly. Carlos
Franco, Director of the Presidential Program for Human
Rights, told Poloff the decision recognized several advances
by the GOC in human rights, treatment of paramilitaries, the
internal justice system, and the fight against impunity.
WOOD