UN Urges Colombian Government
To Protect Judge Issued Landmark Ruling
BOGOTA - A United Nations human rights
commissioner in Colombia Saturday called on
the government to protect a judge who issued
a "landmark" ruling that stirred up
nationwide controversy.
Judge Maria Stella Jara on Wednesday
sentenced retired colonel Alfonso Plazas to
30 years in prison for the disappearance of
11 civilians in 1985 when he led government
troops to retake the supreme court from
guerrillas of the Movimiento 19 de Abril
(M-19).
The sentence, seen as a landmark by human
rights groups, generated controversy in the
country. Leaders of the armed forces said
Plazas should not be held responsible for
the incident. But families of the victims
and the judges supported the verdict.
"We urge the Government of Colombia to abide
by and respect the ruling. We are also
concerned about the safety of judge Maria
Stella Jara, we hope we can strengthen and
take measures to continue to ensure his
safety," said Christian Salazar, the
representative of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe asked on
Friday to protect the peace process signed
with M-19 guerrilla group in 1990. He also
ordered a special legislation to protect the
military who backed Plazas.
Salazar said the United Nations is not
opposed to Uribe's initiative, if it is
clear that human rights cases are processed
by ordinary courts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
