TUC demands action to dismantle Colombian paramilitary groups

The TUC has backed an Amnesty International urgent action calling for an investigation into the murder of farmer Ernesto Guzman and demanding action from the Colombian government to finally disarm and dismantle the paramilitary groups that remain the biggest threat to trade unionists and other human rights defenders in the country. 

The government claims that such groups were disbanded in 2005, but evidence of threats, murder and mass violence by paramilitaries has continued to emerge from Colombia in recent years. As Amnesty says: 

"Colombia's paramilitary groups supposedly began demobilizing in 2005 under the Justice and Peace Law, but it is clear from the killing of human rights defenders, and the threats against them and other vulnerable sectors of civilian society in different parts of the country, that they are still operating. Under the Justice and Peace Law they received a maximum of eight years in prison in return for confessing their responsibility in human rights violations and handing over stolen assets, including land, to their rightful owners. However, since the start of the process only relatively few paramilitaries have been convicted of human rights violations. Those paramilitaries who have served the maximum eight years in prison stipulated under the law are now eligible for conditional release. However, the legal processes against the vast majority of those who have applied for conditional release have not been concluded. There is concern that effective measures are not being put in place to ensure that these paramilitaries do not pose a threat to their victims and others in the communities to which they return."

The TUC's letter to the Colombian ambassador is attached, as is the Amnesty call for action.

Amnesty are asking for appeals to be set before 10 November 2015.