02.10.2008, Colombia, International Audience for Truth demands withdrawal of five high-ranking Colombian diplomats
An International Hearing on Truth, which examined the cases of
Colombian political refugees and those in exile and was convened in
Paris on October 2nd and 3rd, 2008, is requesting the immediate
dismissal of five high Colombian diplomats: Sabas Pretelt de la
Vega, Ambassador to Italy; Luis Camilo Osorio, Ambassador to Mexico;
Ignacio Guzmán, of the Consulate in Miami; Milene Andrade,
government representative in New York; and Carlos Alberto Frasica,
military diplomat in Chile.
With the presence of a delegate of the office of the Human Rights
Ombudsman, Alonso Ojeda Awad, the political refugees and those in exile
presented testimonies which indicated the existence of diplomatic
representatives who are known to be connected to paramilitary
organizations or are implicated in grave human rights violations.
The refugees reported that this presents a significant risk for their
security and the security of their families.
In the recent past, individuals such as Carlos Arturo Marulanda
Ramírez, Salvador Arana, Jorge Noguera, Juan José Chaux
have been in the diplomatic service as ambassadors or consular
representatives, all of which are currently under investigation for
links to paramilitary groups.
The ambassador in Mexico, Luis Camilo Osorio, is currently under
investigation for impeding investigations of crimes committed by
paramilitaries and high-ranking members of the military while he was
the Attorney General of Colombia. Sabas Pretelt de la Vega, the
current ambassador in Italy, has been accused of conspiracy to
illegally permit presidential reelection while serving as Minister of
the Interior. Victims and witness have identified Ignacio
Guzmán, consular representative in Miami, as having links to
African Palm companies with connections to paramilitary groups who are
responsible for crimes against humanity in the region of Bajo
Atrato. Milene Andrade, consular representative in New York,
participated in a meeting on February 18th, 2003 in Santa Fe del
Ralito, in which the paramilitary leader Salvadore Mancuso named
Claudio Sanchez Parra as the rector of the University of Cordoba.
Along with this request, the participants in the International Hearing
in Paris called upon the Colombian government to remove those
implicated in crimes from the diplomatic service, to end the placement
of military officials and civilians who have been connected to
violations of human rights into diplomatic positions, and to guarantee
the dignified and safe return for all people exiled from the
country. They also requested that Attorney General’s office
expedite the investigations against these diplomats. In addition,
they invited the governments of Europe, Latin America, and the United
States to review the trajectory and presence of all diplomats currently
implicated in human rights violations. In the International
Hearing they called attention to the persisting impunity for these
diplomats, and the importance of bringing these cases before the
International Criminal Court or national tribunals with international
jurisdiction.
The members of the Ethics Commission, a body responsible for
safeguarding the process of historical memory in Colombia, comprising
27 people from around the world including Aldolfo Perez Esquivel, Nobel
Peace Prize winner, brought these issues to the attention of their
respective governments and before international bodies, supporting the
requests raised in this hearing.
International Citizen Hearing on Truth - Ethics Commission - National Movement of Victims of State Crimes
Cooperators
World Coalition Against Torturers (WCAT)
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)
Project Management
Bianca Schmolze
Bianca Schmolze
has a Master of Business Administration and works for the Medical Care
Service for Refugees since 2002. After serving as a fundraiser, she
became responsible coordinator of the "Justice heals" campaign in 2004.
Furthermore, she has a mandate in the city council of Bochum.
Tel.: +49-(0)234-9041380
Fax: +49-(0)234-9041381
(Thursday and Friday, 10.00–18.00 Uhr)
Supported by
Manfred
Nowak,
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture