Press Releases:

May 14, 2008

Extradition: Colombia’s and the United States’ Mistake

Oprima aquí para la versión en español.

NEW YORK-The Colombian government this week extradited 14 jailed paramilitary leaders to the United States, an action that the International Center for Transitional Justice believes to be a significant step backwards for Colombia's efforts to secure truth and justice for tens of thousands of victims of more than a generation of violent conflict.

All 14 of the paramilitary figures sent to the United States were being tried in Colombian courts for human rights violations, in some instances on charges of crimes against humanity. Victims of serious crimes would have had the opportunity to confront the accused in court and also to help determine the reparations to be paid from legal and illegal gains of those who were convicted.

But those proceedings, being conducted under Colombia's Peace and Justice Law, have been interrupted by the extraditions.

Indeed, the extraditions pose serious obstacles for victims, prosecutors and the judges responsible for bringing people to justice.

In most of the 14 cases, the extradition has been authorized on charges of drug trafficking, conspiracy to traffic, and collaboration with terrorist organizations. The accused will be tried in U.S. courts in Houston, Miami, New York and Washington D.C. They will not be prosecuted in the United States for human rights abuses.

"Prosecutions of people for drug trafficking should not come at the expense of holding them accountable for crimes against humanity," said Mariclaire Acosta, director of ICTJ's Americas Program.

"The rule of law is intended to empower victims," Acosta said. "But this process deprives them of their day in court and the opportunity to uncover the truth."

Colombia has a legal obligation to ensure proper prosecution of human rights crimes and to promote and respect victims' full participation in the proceedings.

Colombian judges and prosecutors have used the Peace and Justice Law to hold people accountable for human rights crimes. Colombia's Supreme Court is investigating 66 members of Colombia's congress for alleged links to paramilitaries. The judiciary has also prosecuted several egregious human rights cases. Peace and Justice Prosecutors have labored to bring more than 3000 paramilitary members to justice.

Colombia's government says that an agreement with the U.S. ensures reparations for victims and the continuation of the Peace and Justice procedures. However, this agreement has not been published; its contents remain unknown. ICTJ urges that special attention be given to victims' rights.

For more information about the ICTJ's work in Colombia, click here.

Oprima aquí para la versión en español.