07 May 2003
International Groups Join U.S. in Denouncing Killings by FARC in Colombia
(Murders described as attempt to undermine Colombian peace, democracy)
(760)
By Eric Green
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- The international community has joined the United States
in denouncing the May 5 assassinations of two Colombian political
figures and eight members of the Colombian armed forces, who had been
held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
guerrilla group.
The U.S. State Department said in a May 6 statement that the Bush
Administration is "shocked and deeply saddened" by the "cold-blooded
murders" of the 10 Colombian citizens, adding that "this action
demonstrates the FARC's brutality and indifference to those courageous
Colombians who seek peace and a negotiated resolution to Colombia's
longstanding internal conflict."
The FARC has been designated by the State Department as a foreign
terrorist organization and is responsible for much of the violence
stemming from Colombia's 38-year civil war.
The killings followed a May 1 meeting in Washington between President
Bush and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, where the two leaders
pledged to work together to defeat narco-terrorism in Colombia.
Bush praised Uribe for his determination to fight terrorism and drug
trafficking. The Colombian leader, Bush said, "has got a
straightforward, strong vision about what has to happen to people who
are willing to kill innocent people. And they must be dealt with
severely."
The FARC is reported to be holding more than 800 hostages -- including
three Americans captured when their surveillance plane was shot down,
and a number of Colombian government officials. It is estimated that
the FARC is responsible for at least 182 kidnappings in 2003 alone.
Also condemning the murders was the United Nations (U.N.), which said
in a May 6 statement that the FARC and other illegal groups in
Colombia ignored pleas to release all the hostages they were holding.
The guerrillas had seized the Governor of Antioquia Department,
Guillermo Gaviria, and former defense minister Gilberto Echeverri as
the two men participated in an April 21, 2002, peace march in
Antioquia.
Not allowing the hostages to go free represents a "flagrant and
serious violation of international humanitarian rights," added the
U.N.
In a May 7 statement condemning the latest FARC violence, the European
Union (EU) said it responds "with distress [to] these atrocious
murders." The EU said it hopes that all "possible efforts will be
carried on at safeguarding the persons still kidnapped, in respect of
the value of human life. In this respect, the EU underlines that
hostage-taking is a crime recognized as an act of terrorism and calls
[for] the liberation of all hostages without preconditions."
The EU reiterated its "full support to democracy in Colombia and to
the active engagement" of the Uribe Administration "to establish the
rule of law throughout the country, including [in] the fight against
terrorism."
Also condemning the killings was Cesar Gaviria, secretary general of
the Organization of American States (OAS). He said in a May 5
statement that the murders were a "cowardly crime in which FARC
guerrillas have deprived Colombia of outstanding men whose commitment
to peace and service set them apart throughout their lifetime."
The assassinations of "exemplary public officials who were great
Colombians and exceptional human beings clearly shows that the FARC
totally lacked humanitarian feeling and regard for human life," said
Gaviria.
He added that "there should be no doubt whatsoever that the assassins
are seeking to undermine our confidence in the democratic system" in
Colombia "and in the values of respect for human life -- values that
uphold our society."
Gaviria urged Colombians to "rally around" Colombia's democratic
institutions "as never before and to unequivocally condemn kidnappings
and all terrorist practices."
Meanwhile, Amnesty International said in a May 6 statement that the
practice of hostage-taking and the killing of prisoners are
"violations of international humanitarian law."
Amnesty International, with headquarters in London, England,
reiterated its plea to the FARC "to put an immediate end to kidnapping
and hostage-taking and to immediately and unconditionally release all
victims of kidnapping."
Human Rights Watch also deplored the murders. In a May 5 statement
released from its Washington office, the group said the "onus for
these deaths lays squarely on the guerrillas," adding: "It is past
time for the armed groups" that use terrorist tactics such as
kidnapping "to release safely the hundreds of Colombians and others
who remain in captivity."
Human Rights Watch condemned the FARC for its "horrendous record of
kidnapping civilians."
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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