Press Releases:

May 15, 2009

Colombia: Extradition of paramilitary leaders

BOGOTÁ/NEW YORK, May 14, 2009 -- One year after the extradition of more than a dozen paramilitary leaders by Colombia to the United States on drug-related charges, there is still no clear judicial mechanism guaranteeing that the paramilitary leaders will be part of Colombia's Justice and Peace process that focuses on the rights of victims, the International Center for Transitional Justice said.

"The extraditions could be a good example of cooperation in the fight against impunity, but in this case, they interfere with Colombia's legal obligation to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of serious human rights violations," said Michael Reed, director of ICTJ's Colombia program. "If there is sufficient evidence, the paramilitary leaders should be prosecuted on drug charges, but the the prosecution of crimes related to human rights violations cannot be dropped."
The extraditions have interfered with the rights of victims in Colombia to truth, justice and reparations, Reed said.

Only three of the 17 extradited commanders have testified during the past year at public hearings held as part of the Justice and Peace process: Salvatore Mancuso Gómez, Ramiro Vanoy Murillo and Guillermo Pérez Alzate. None of the 17 has been indicted by Colombian prosecutors. Meanwhile, U.S. courts have convicted three of the paramilitary leaders on drug-trafficking charges. The three are Diego Fernando Murillo, Ramiro Vanoy Murillo and Francisco Javier Zuluaga Lindo.

"A year after the extradition, Colombian and American authorities have to fulfill their international responsibilities to have effective investigations of human rights violations." Reed said. "Authorities from both countries need to ensure the cooperation of the extradited paramilitary commanders."

About ICTJ

The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) assists countries pursuing accountability for past mass atrocity or human rights abuse. ICTJ works in societies emerging from repressive rule or armed conflict, as well as in established democracies where historical injustices or systemic abuse remain unresolved.

Contact

Robert Ruby (New York)
Director of Communications
+1.646.919.6599
rruby@ictj.org

Maria Cristina Rivera (Bogotá)
Communications Associate/Americas
+57.1.350.00.46 (ext. 102)
mrivera@ictj.org