Colombia: Armed Conflict

John Bercow
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the number of extra-judicial killings by members of the security forces in Colombia in 2008.

Gillian Merron
We have received no reports of extra-judicial killings by members of the security forces in Colombia committed in 2009. I issued a statement on the issue on 30 October 2008 in which I said that the Colombian Government’s decision to dismiss a number of army officers as a result of recent extra-judicial killings and cases of criminal conspiracy was important. It is vital, not least for Colombia’s international reputation, that the Government and courts continue to show a determination to deal with human rights abuses committed by members of the armed forces, and that those convicted by the civilian justice system are punished appropriately.

The statement of 30 October 2008 is available for viewing online at:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view=PressR&id=8365817