The Government requested the Court to annul the ruling warning about the safety of former combatants

The Presidential Adviser for Stabilization and Consolidation, Emilio Archila, revealed that the national government asked the Full Chamber of the Constitutional Court to determine the nullity of the ruling declaring the State of Things Unconstitutional on the safety of former combatants of the demobilized FARC guerrilla.

The official noted that this request is supported by a report by the Office of the Ombudsman, which was made in response to requests from entities belonging to the Integral System for Peace (IAPA), which recognizes “a deployment of the corresponding actions, through the development of programs and strategies, which are has been reflected in the implementation of schemes for the protection of signatories”.

“The objective of all the entities that participate in the security of ex-combatants is that there will be zero deaths and zero attacks, but in order to combine our efforts we have to start from the recognition of what has happened. The ombudsman, Carlos Camargo, found in the field that there is a policy led by the president that is articulate, judicious and dedicated to the safety of combatants,” said Councillor Archila.

He also indicated that the Office of the Ombudsman also found that “good results” have been achieved, arguing that this is the process in which the lowest number of murders per 1,000 people in the process of disarmament have been recorded, statements that, although they may be true, are at odds with the figures collected by the Institute of Studies for development and peace (Indepaz), which records 305 murders of former combatants since the signing of the Peace Agreement.

Likewise, he noted that the counsel had shown in the report that there has been a “substantial” decrease annually in attacks against signatories in the process of being reinstated, and the judicial authorities were also acknowledged in the intention of advancing investigations that have led to sentences convictions and imprisonment of those who have been identified for the dissidents, the Gulf Clan and ELN.

“In order for the actions of all those concerned to ensure that the safety of ex-combatants leads to a common goal, it is necessary to start from the reality of the efforts that have been made and what has been advanced. That is why it is so important that the Court considers what the Ombudsman's Office taught and that it does not remain in its initial assessments,” said the counselor.

He also clarified despite the fact that this ruling has not been notified or published, the Constitutional Court informed the public that the ruling resolves to declare the State of Things Unconstitutional, which is a figure used by the high court when there is a massive and widespread violation of various constitutional rights affecting a significant number of persons, due to the alleged “low level of implementation of the component on security assurances for former combatants”.

“We know that the intention of the Constitutional Court is to get it right. Now, again, it has elements of judgment to recognize what has been done and from there for its conclusions and recommendations on the safety of ex-combatants”, concluded Councillor Archila.

Despite the efforts, which the official exalts, several social organizations and international organizations such as the United Nations have repeatedly called for increased efforts to ensure the safety of former combatants.

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