In the 1980s and 1990s, the Colombian state “exterminated” more than 6,000 activists and members of the Patriotic Union, a communist political party. This is the judgment rendered by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights earlier this week. For Colombian President Gustavo Petro, this is proof that Colombia was “a murderous state” and that only the fight against impunity through national and international courts can put an end to it.
Founded in 1985 after an agreement the previous year between the Colombian government and the Farc guerrillas, the Patriotic Union quickly managed to conquer several municipalities and seats in the Assembly. It had 14 congressmen, 18 deputies and 335 councilors and won wide support in areas such as northeast Antioquia, Bajo Cauca, Magdalena Medio, Urabá, Chocó, Arauca and even Medellín.
But his political successes disturb. To counter them, a secret alliance is created: traditional right-wing politicians, policemen, businessmen and paramilitaries embark on a campaign ” systematic extermination » members and activists of the Patriotic Union: massacres, executions, torture and forced displacement. Some 6,000 people are murdered or disappear. This is the result of a survey launched in February 2021 by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Survey who has led to the condemnation of ColombiaStart of the week.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights granted Colombia a maximum period of two years to carry out investigations, identify all the victims, establish the facts and punish those responsible. So far, the crimes committed against the 6,000 activists and members of the Patriotic Union have been covered up by a judicial system reluctant to prosecute their perpetrators and their sponsors.
Carlos Andrés Perez is one of the rare survivors of this organized liquidation. This former mayor of Chirigodó (Antioquia) had to go into exile in Switzerland. “ I was very moved by this judgment, testifies the former political leader at the microphone of RFI. It is the result of almost thirty years of struggle to obtain justice. Many of our people are dead. To be at peace, we also need to seek out and identify the missing. »
The party reappeared at the beginning of the last decade and is now part of the “Historical Pact”, a left-wing coalition that won the 2022 presidential election behind the banner of Gustavo Petro.
In Colombia, the JEP, the special court of peacehas also opened an investigation called the ” mega-folder 06 “, on these murders, under the leadership of the magistrate Gustavo Salazar. It established in a first report made public last April the number of victims and continues its investigation into the responsibilities of the Colombian state.
► Read also : in Colombia, 5733 people killed or disappeared during attacks against Patriotic Union from 1984 to 2016