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OAS CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING PROGRAMS TO REINTEGRATE DEMOBILIZED COMBATANTS IN COLOMBIA TO PREVENT REARMAMENT

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, today called on the Colombian government to strengthen its programs to reintegrate demobilized members of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) into society, in order to prevent their rearmament and to be able to “advance a more permanent peace process” in that country.

In presenting to the Permanent Council the eighth quarterly report of the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP, by its Spanish acronym), the Secretary General stressed the importance of the demobilization and reintegration of the AUC as an essential component of the peace process. He reaffirmed that the OAS remains committed to building on this effort and to supporting the people and institutions of Colombia in any peace initiatives they are willing to move forward. The process that demobilized 31,689 former combatants concluded a few months ago, Insulza noted.

“Even though the disarmament and demobilization of the AUC and its attempt to reintegrate into civilian society have faced difficulties, such steps, taken one at a time, constitute new scenarios for peace in Colombia,” Insulza said. The report presented by the Secretary General shows that central and unavoidable issues in these types of processes—especially victims’ compensation, and truth and justice concerns—are fundamental elements in the consolidation of peace. The report outlines the importance of supporting communities affected by violence, strengthening state institutions in demobilized territories and taking urgent measures in the area of reintegration.

The Secretary General highlighted OAS efforts in the verification and demobilization process and the dismantling of the illegal combatants’ military structure, noting that through the MAPP “we have verified that armed structures that have not been demobilized still remain, and even though these are numerically fewer, they are a cause for concern, both for the Colombian government and for the OAS.” He added that it is not possible to guarantee 100 percent demobilization and said this process has given rise to two phenomena: “first, that there are people who refuse to be included in the demobilization process; and second, the appearance of new ‘emerging bands’ of groups that, having been demobilized, tend to take up arms again.”

Insulza also underscored the efforts underway to try to establish peace talks between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN), and lamented the breakdown of negotiations with the Colombian Armed Forces (FARC) in terms of actions conducive to a humanitarian agreement.

The decision to destroy all the weapons handed over during the demobilization of the AUC represents an important step, said the Secretary General, who reaffirmed OAS technical and financial support in this effort as well as in the full verification of the process. He backed the government’s decision to neutralize instances of rearmament that have been verified, especially in the departments of Córdoba, Caquetá, Casanare and the Alta Guajira zone.
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The Secretary General expressed his appreciation for contributions received from The Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Spain, the United Sates, Holland, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Thailand and Korea, which he said show “the breadth of support” for OAS efforts in Colombia and provide the backing to move the process forward. Insulza also recognized the “confidence and deference” demonstrated by the Colombian government in granting the OAS Mission to Support the Peace Process a three-year extension to continue its efforts.

Ambassador Camilo Ospina of Colombia, on behalf of the government of Alvaro Uribe, thanked the OAS for its ongoing contribution to the peace process, in addition to the support it has provided for humanitarian demining. Delegates of the member states recognized the Colombian government’s efforts to achieve peace and reiterated their support of the process that one diplomat praised for its “humanitarian approach.” The member states expressed optimism for the role that can be played by the recently named High Commissioner for Reintegration, who is responsible for articulating institutional efforts and promoting effective solutions for the reintegration of former combatants.

During the same meeting, the Permanent Council—chaired by Ambassador María del Luján Flores of Uruguay—said farewell to the Permanent Alternate Representative of Guatemala, Ambassador Juan Leon Alvarado, who leaves the OAS to assume the post of Ambassador of Guatemala in Ecuador.

Also during the meeting, the OAS member state representatives observed a moment of silence in honor of the first woman to hold the office of Defense Minister in Ecuador, Guadalupe Larriva, who died in a helicopter accident on January 24, along with her daughter and members of the Air Force. The Council also expressed condolences to the government and people of Barbados for the death of the renowned jurist and diplomat Oliver Jackman, who among other posts served as judge on the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The Permanent Council also lamented yesterday’s murder, in Guatemala, of three representatives of El Salvador to the Central American Parliament.

Reference: E-051/07