Colombia
The Truth Recognition Room of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) has summoned the former governors of Nariño Parmenio Cuéllar Bastidas (2001-2003), Eduardo Zúñiga Eraso (2004-2007), Antonio Navarro Wolff (2008-2011) and Raúl Delgado Guerrero (2012-2015) to testify about the use of glyphosate in the fumigation of illicit crops in the municipalities of Tumaco, Ricaurte and Barbecues. The hearings will be held between June 17 and 25.
The summons is made in the context of Case 02, which investigates serious crimes allegedly committed by the Public Force and other actors, such as the FARC guerrilla, agents of the State. non-members of the Public Force and third-party civilians in this region between 1990 and 2016. In one of the lines of investigation, the former presidents must provide details on the implementation and impact of the forced eradication strategy of illicit crops by aerial spraying with glyphosate between 2000 and 2013.
The JEP has identified approximately 400 serious incidents in this macro case, 98 of which are directly related to the glyphosate eradication strategy. According to reports provided by various victims’ organizations and other sources, these actions generated serious and disproportionate damage to the civilian population, affecting their health, property, and the environment. The testimonies report direct damage to people’s health, destruction of subsistence crops, medicinal plants and contamination of bodies of water. In addition, forced displacements and a worsening of vulnerability and social conflict in the affected communities have been documented.
The JEP has invited the victims of these municipalities that suffered serious violations of Human Rights and infractions of the International Humanitarian Law during the eradication operations of illicit crops to be accredited in the process. This measure seeks to ensure that the voices of the affected communities are heard and taken into account in clarifying the facts.
In a first decision, the Truth Recognition Room has already determined the facts and conduct allegedly committed by the extinct FARC guerrillas in the municipalities of Tumaco, Ricaurte and Barbecues. The hearings scheduled for June represent another step in the effort to obtain truth and justice for the victims of these serious violations.
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