Social unrest has been raging in Colombia’s major cities since the beginning of May. The government is fighting the protests brutally and with armed force. According to local NGOs, over 60 people have already died. The international community is alarmed and reiterates the concerns of the Colombian population and human rights and peace organizations. Members of the Swiss parliament have sent a letter demanding that the Colombian government immediately stop the violence against demonstrators. Instead, President Iván Duque should resume a dialog with the population that promotes social cohesion and lasting peace. Read the translation of this letter here.
Mr. President,
As parliamentarians, we are committed to the eradication of poverty, the social and economic integration of marginalized population groups and peace. We have been hoping for years that peace will be achieved in Colombia. We hope that a clear public policy to fight poverty and integrate marginalized groups, including indigenous peoples, will strengthen social cohesion and the well-being of all in your country.
We would like to express our deep concern about the serious events that have taken place during the national strike against the tax reform announced by your government: We have received reports of 47 deaths from police and army attacks, around 1900 cases of police violence, over 450 injured, over 1000 arrests, most of which were subjected to arbitrary procedures, and numerous cases of torture or cruel and inhuman treatment, 15 cases of sexual assault by police and army, around 471 missing persons, including two murdered, and 58 attacks on human rights defenders and journalists.
Reports from various sources agree that excessive force was used against peaceful protesters and that there were cases of vandalism or violence by the protesters.
We are deeply saddened by all the people who were killed and injured, including at least three minors who lost their lives and two who were victims of sexual violence. It is unfortunate that each of the survivors will be left with permanent injuries. We are also concerned about the reported use of firearms and other lethal and non-lethal weapons at public and peaceful demonstrations.
We have received reports of attacks on human rights defenders, their review commissions and even UN delegations deployed in the field. These attacks send an unfortunate message of concern at a time when peace is being signed and implemented in your country, with the strong support of the Swiss government and the international community in general.
Today, the general demand to meet the urgent economic needs of the well-being and dignity of the entire population is a civic appeal. In order to prevent further violations of the human rights of the population and to respect and guarantee the basic conditions for the exercise of the peaceful right of citizens to demonstrate, it is urgent to put an immediate end to the arbitrary and excessive use of force. We are also of the opinion that it is extremely important that the ordinary justice system investigates the acts of violence and the possible abuse of force and, above all, that the fate of the missing persons is clarified.
We continue to consider it crucial to promote an international humanitarian verification mission that takes into account the situation of the national strike and its multiple manifestations, thus restoring real dialog and social cohesion in order to effectively achieve the necessary social progress, which is the only guarantee of lasting social peace. If such a dynamic emerges, you can always count on us, both in Switzerland and in Colombia.
Given the importance of strengthening international relations in the context of friendship and mutual support between states and multilateral organizations, we believe that it should be allowed to implement mechanisms that strengthen democracy, peace and their results throughout the country, as affirmed by various actors, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Ultimately, this is an unprecedented moment: It allows to contribute to the great importance of the State by opening spaces for negotiation with the people mobilized by the national strike in order to return to a certain normality that ensures the well-being of all sectors of the population. It is about restoring a certain calm to the vast majority – also in economic terms – and strengthening peace, human rights and social progress.
With all due respect,
Carlo Sommaruga, Council of States
Fabian Molina, National Councillor
Marina Carobbio Guscetti, Member of the Council of States
Mattea Meyer, National Councillor
Brigitte Crottaz, National Councillor
Lisa Mazzone, Member of the Council of States
Christine Badertscher, National Councillor
Christian Dandres, National Councillor
Laurence Fehlmann Rielle, National Councillor
Claudia Friedl, National Councillor
Nicolas Walder, National Councillor
Stéfanie Prezioso, National Councillor
Ada Mara, National Councillor
Denis De La Reusille, National Councillor
Samira Marti, National Councillor
Cédric Wermuth, National Councillor
Download original letter in Spanish (PDF)
Photo: Oxi.ap/Flickr – Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
