Peace tribunal confirms sanctions against seven former guerrilla commanders for kidnappings and murders
The appeals body of the JEP upheld the sanctions imposed on Rodrigo Londoño, Pablo Catatumbo and five other former Farc leaders for crimes committed during the Colombian armed conflict.
Peace tribunal confirms sanctions against seven former guerrilla commanders for kidnappings and murders
The higher body of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) upheld the sanctions imposed against seven former top leaders of the armed group Farc, who are attributed responsibility for kidnappings and murders that occurred during the internal conflict.
The sanctioned individuals are Rodrigo Londoño, Jaime Alberto Parra, Milton de Jesús Toncel, Pablo Catatumbo, Pastor Alape, Julián Gallo and Rodrigo Granda. The tribunal found it proven that these former leaders must answer for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by the insurgent organisation.
The decision by the Appeals Section came after reviewing dozens of objections: 52 presented by affected persons, their representatives and the prosecution, plus 17 formulated by those implicated themselves. The result was the maintenance of the initial ruling.
In five cases, the magistrates also determined that the former commanders failed to prevent practices such as mistreatment, harassment, attacks on personal integrity, sexual abuse and expulsion of civilian populations.
The tribunal introduced a significant change: the obligations imposed must be expressed clearly and without vagueness. Therefore, it ordered that the specific tasks which each person must perform be detailed with precision, which must have a direct relation to the harm generated by the kidnappings.
As a consequence, the ruling incorporated a work plan organised by geographical zones, which establishes the projects to be developed, specific functions, as well as deadlines and work schedules throughout the duration of the sanction. These activities seek to restore the harm caused to those who suffered the crimes.
The JEP emphasised that the acceptance of facts and assumption of responsibility by those implicated are based on a conversational method of evidence collection and the work of the judge to purify and compare the information until obtaining robust evidence.
It is relevant to clarify that this ruling does not constitute a custodial sentence in the traditional sense. As it is a transitional justice mechanism, the condemned will not go to prison, but must instead carry out works, labour and reparatory actions directed at those harmed for the duration of the measure.
Finally, the magistrates reiterated the necessity for victims to intervene actively in these proceedings, even with the power to directly suggest the consequences applicable to those who committed the offences. This right was formally enshrined in the final ruling.
_Source: El Colombiano_
Source: Google News BO — La Paz