Colombian Safeguards Minister Ivan Velasquez really stands toward members of the family off 19 people that was basically incorrectly and fatally showed because guerrillas in the country’s civil battle.

Colombia’s government provided a long-anticipated public apology Tuesday to the extrajudicial killings out-of 19 civilians who had been slain from the military and inserted given that rebel competitors throughout probably one of the most violent symptoms of one’s nation’s municipal war.

The latest apology happens due to the fact Colombia’s government attempts to create amends that have groups impacted by decades away from armed conflict and you can agent tranquility profit having push back groups which can be nevertheless assaulting the brand new military in rural elements even with a good 2016 peace contract amongst the regulators and the state’s biggest break the rules group.

“This type of [killings] need never happened,” Shelter Minister Ivan Velasquez told you from the a meeting before the country’s congress attended by victims’ relatives.

“I request you to forgive all of us for those criminal activities one to embarrass us ahead of the business,” Velasquez told you inside the a demonstration. The fresh killings occurred between 2004 and 2008 because the Colombia’s armed forces intensified their campaign contrary to the Innovative Military off Colombia – the latest break the rules group you to definitely produced comfort into government in 2016.

New killings inside it more youthful guys out of bad communities who have been lured out of their houses with false promises regarding efforts various other areas. When they reach their sites, the sufferers had been attempt by soldiers who outfitted their corpses for the camouflage or place weapons alongside Uruguayr kvinnor their health and exhibited them on their superiors as rebels murdered inside combat in order to secure advertising and you may travel day.

Process of law within the Colombia was ordering government entities to help you apologize to have this type of times – understood here since the “incorrect advantages” – because 2015, as part of a couple of reparation procedures that can provided jail phrases for some of troops and you can officers inside it.

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However the administrations out of presidents Juan Manuel Santos and you can Ivan Duque got skirted inside the orders so you can apologize publicly while they were unwilling to realize that, when you look at the state’s armed argument, the fresh army got enough time war criminal activities just as big because the men and women accomplished by rebel groups, said Gimena Sanchez, a great Colombia pro within Arizona Workplace to your Latin The united states, a human liberties classification.

Sanchez said the new recently decided bodies off Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s basic leftist president, could have been more willing to come together having evaluation on conflict crimes, and people performed because of the Special Jurisdiction for Comfort, good transformation justice program produced by the brand new 2016 peace contract.

“This can be equally important to the victims’ family,” Sanchez told you. “Those people friends had to endure the brand new stigma out-of allegedly getting family unit members away from guerrillas.”

With regards to the Unique Legislation getting Serenity, Colombia’s armed forces the amount of time at least six,402 extrajudicial killings ranging from 2002 and you will 2008, since commanders stressed its troops to incorporate far more performance towards the battleground and you may placed a focus to your increasing the amount of opponent casualties.

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The latest peace tribunal recently energized an old leader off Colombia’s military on the murders regarding 130 civilians ranging from 2002 and you will 2003 inside Antioquia state.

While the family relations thanked Velasquez for carrying on case and you will issuing an enthusiastic apology, very told you these were not prepared to forgive.

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And said the ones who shall be apologizing on it will be the political leaders who had been best Colombia if murders from their friends occurred, and additionally Santos, who was Colombia’s coverage minister between 2006 and you may 2009.

“Santos should be the one who shows their face right here and requests forgiveness,” told you Florinda Hernandez, whose son Elkin was killed of the army into the . “We do not want which to take place once again, and now we are nevertheless looking to fairness into the murders out-of so people.”

Santos apologized to sufferers of “incorrect advantages” inside the 2021, while in the a paying attention having Colombia’s insights fee which was stored trailing closed gates. The previous chairman said the guy believed “deep guilt” for the killings regarding civilians and you can extra he led analysis that helped to get rid of the latest routine.