Truth Commission asks the international community not to finance the war in Colombia

The president of the Commission for the Clarification of the Truth (CEV) of Colombia, Father Francisco de Roux, asked Thursday before the United Nations Security Council that the international community not finance “the war” in his country in any way. .

This, about the presentation the report of the Commission, which reflects what happened during the armed conflict in Colombia of more than 50 years.

“International community, we ask you not to give us anything for the war. We want Colombia to be a world paradigm of reconciliation, after so much suffering,” de Roux added.

“In Colombia, the war was soaked in drug trafficking and since we are in war mode, we take from other consuming countries the idea that drug trafficking is a matter of national security and, therefore, a matter of war… No more violence, we lost the value of women and men, war damages everything it touches”.

In the speech, the father highlighted the collection of information from 30,000 stories and reports from Colombian victims of the conflict: “Testimonies of the 50,000 kidnapped, thousands of boys and girls taken to war, where the responsibility of the guerrilla was maximum. Forced disappearances, false positives, where the responsibility of the State is immense and direct”.

The president of the Commission also pointed out that he is optimistic for the future of Colombia: “There is still a long way to go, but Colombia has undertaken it by accepting the historical truth of its own tragedy and the determination to look to the future.”

Leaving the act, de Roux told the voice of america that the Commission is very pleased with the “great support” it receives from the Security Council and because they received an “extraordinary contribution” from the UN Mission.

Balance of the UN Verification Mission

The Commission traveled to New Yorkin the midst of the delivery of the quarterly report that the UN Verification Mission submits to the Security Council on the implementation of the Peace Agreement.

During this presentation, the head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, asked the Colombian authorities to investigate the alleged diversion of resources intended for the implementation of the Peace Agreement through the OCAD Peace.

“Regarding the information that has recently come to light about the alleged embezzlement of important resources from royalties from the exploitation of hydrocarbons (…) transparency in the use of valuable funds for peace requires that the authorities investigate thoroughly all possible acts of corruption,” said Ruiz Massieu.

For his part, the presidential adviser for Stabilization and Consolidation, Juan Carlos Vargas Morales, responsible for the implementation of the Peace Agreement in Colombia, offered the voice of america a balance, a few months before the end of Iván Duque’s term, and pointed out that the implementation has been executed and planned optimally.

Morales commented that, even, “despite all the criticism that may be had, we have complied in the implementation, we have exceeded the allocation of resources. Even beyond what was planned. We already have more or less 48,000 million pesos Colombians [unos 10.700.000 dólares] invested in the implementation of the agreements, with absolute transfer”.

Regarding the money mentioned recently, he clarified that they are not administered by the Government but by territorial entities (mayors, governorates), and that they are the “first interested in knowing the truth.”

“We have not received evidence of the embezzlement of these resources and we have been the first committed, hand in hand with the control bodies, to transfer, gather more information,” said the official.

Highlights

The head of the mission highlighted the contribution of the Peace Agreement for “the expansion and deepening of Colombian democracy”, the increase in women’s participation in the legislature and rejected violence against social leaders in Colombia.

In addition, he highlighted the will of the incoming government: “The president-elect [Gustavo] Petro has launched a call in favor of national unity and has expressed its intention to deepen the comprehensive application of the peace agreement.

On the other hand, he highlighted the final report of the Truth Commission: “Only with truth will a better future be built for all of Colombia.”

For her part, Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucía Ramírez highlighted the implementation of the current Government and asked the incoming administration to continue with this work.

“To have a complete, comprehensive, objective and impartial truth, we appreciate your efforts and those of the other members of the Commission in that regard. Our effort will continue until the last second of our presidential term,” said Ramírez.

Representatives of different member states of the UN Security Council highlighted the presentation of the Commission’s report and the work of the Colombian Government.

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