The second Marquetalia released 16 people captured in combat.
Photo: Ombudsman
The Ombudsman Carlos Camargo described as an unprecedented act the release of 16 young people belonging to an unlawful group and in the hands of the Second Marquetalia, following a confrontation between the two organizations total peace maintained by Gustavo Petro’s government.
The release, which took place in the Pacific rural area of Nariño, was recorded in the presence of the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Diocese of Tumaco and the Ombudsman, following rapprochements between the Government and the Second Marquetalia, the stated that as a gesture of peace and support for the government’s proposal, they would hand over a personnel captured during fighting against the Front 30 Western Coordinating Command.
Read here: Killings of social leaders declined after Petro government peace plans
The Ombudsman, Carlos Camargo, pointed out that the 16 young detainees had previously been visited by ICRC officials before their confinement to assess their state of health and ascertain their willingness to reunite their families. For his part, the Ombudsman, through the delegated Ombudsman for the Prevention and Management of Social Conflicts and the Regional Ombudsman of Tumaco, met with the detainees to explain the two phases of the release process.
The first concerns humanitarian issues and the second legal areas. The latter, given the possibility that they have voluntarily decided to use the individual submission program in order to obtain the legal and economic advantages and the preferential attention that this path indicates. After each considered their legal situation, members of the Second Marquetalia surrendered the 16 youths.
Also Read: Peace Commissioner Reassures 10 Armed Groups Initiated Ceasefire
For his part, Camargo expressed his satisfaction with the humanitarian management that has allowed the release of young people deprived of their liberty due to the armed conflict. Mainly because it occurs amid calls for illegal groups to de-escalate violence, respect the lives, liberties and personal integrity of civilians, and avoid attacks and aggression against social leaders and human rights defenders.
The Ombudsman also reiterated the call for organized armed groups to accept the national government’s total peace proposal and the multilateral ceasefire to ensure the security and tranquility of communities, respect for rights and compliance with international humanitarian law.
You may be interested in: “Iván Márquez is alive and clear”: Danilo Rueda, High Commissioner for Peace
The defender reiterated that the chair of the commitment should support the peace policy of the current government, for which he made available the humanitarian mediation capacity of the Ombudsman, as well as the accompaniment of regional and territorial dialogues and their follow-up to the agreements signed at the negotiating tables.
The release of the 16 people came three weeks after Peace Commissioner Danilo Rueda confirmed that the extinct FARC’s former chief negotiator, Iván Márquez, was alive. The former guerrilla leader was wounded in clashes on Venezuelan territory. At one point it was said he could lose his life, but it has been confirmed that he continues to direct the structure he organized after taking up arms.
To learn more about justice, security and human rights, visit the Justice Department The Observer.