Victims of the armed conflict upset with the results of the votes for peace seats

Last Sunday 13 March, the first election days of the year were held in the country. Since the results were known, there have been several comments in favor and against the elected candidates, however, particular emphasis has been placed on the citizens who will occupy peace seats. Spokespersons for the victims of the armed conflict in Colombia have stated that some of those in these positions are not fit to carry out the mandated tasks. It is noteworthy that it was in 167 municipalities that the right to vote was exercised within these spaces.

“In the territories they don't really know them, they don't know who they are, they don't know their management. It is very sad and very regrettable that the victims that we really want this country, that we want to build, that we want to restore all the rights that are mocked by this terrorist group, because we don't have that real representation in Congress,” said Lorena Murcia, a human rights activist, in dialogues with RCN News.

It is worth remembering that among the winners are Jorge Rodrigo Tovar, whose father is the former paramilitary alias 'Jorge 40'. Tovar is in his place under the representation of the victims that cover the Sierra Nevada and the Serrania del Perija. Likewise, the rise of Haiver Rincón, the winner of the peace curul for Tolima, was criticized. According to his critics, his position there would be key to the actions of conservative César Barreto, former governor of the department. In the same way, the position now assumed by Leonor María Palencia, niece of the governor of Cordoba, Orlando Benitez, was judged. She is accused of receiving the support of her uncle and of buying votes.

“In Colombia, there are no blood crimes; responsibilities, in our system, are individual. Therefore, I do not have to assume burdens or points that, in addition to being unjustified, lack veracity”, commented Jorge Rodrigo Tovar in the face of criticism for his victory. Tovar won 67,079 votes, or 48.57 per cent of the total number of voters.

The name of James Hermenegildo Mosquera also comes out, who was credited as a victim, according to those who are against him, in record time. He would have received support from the Sánchez clan, one of the most powerful political families in Chocó, and the U party. This was reported by the newspaper Vanguardia.

It was also reported that the winner of the 16th district of Urabá, Karen López, based her campaign on the delivery of gifts to her future voters and the holding of events. Also noteworthy are the names of Diogenes Quintero and Karen Astrith Manrique, whom they accuse of having held positions before getting their seats. Quintero was in the Ombudsman's Office of the territory and Manrique was former Secretary of Welfare of the municipality of Tame, in Arauca.

“Among the complaints, we said that there was no equality in the competition, that there was not enough pedagogy to disseminate seats and that there was improvisation,” said Juan Ariel Hinojosa, former candidate of District 12 for the Association of Victims of Caesar, in testimonies rescued by W Radio.

“It has been a process of re-victimization because there have been no minimum electoral guarantees for candidates (...) It is not clear who will now defend the rights of victims (...) As of today, we are completely vulnerable,” said the analyst of the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation Daniela Garzón, who said that thanks to those irregularities there is now a panorama full of “fear and fear of all kinds”.

All this comes days after Colombian President Iván Duque said that “victims of violence will be able to have a say in Congress, because it is not possible that the perpetrators, who have been lacerated by the different expressions of violence, have had their first seats.”

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