29 deputies of the HDP condemn the recent killings of FARC members

29 deputies of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Turkey condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent killings of FARC members and their relatives in Colombia. We are alarmed that in the midst of the implementation of the peace agreement between the FARC and the Colombian government two FARC members and six of their relatives have been killed.

We are extremely concerned about the lack of protection measures for FARC members as they lay down their arms and begin the reintegration process. Luis Alberto Ortiz was killed on 16th April only two weeks after being released from prison under the terms of the amnesty law; militia member José Huber Yatacúe was assassinated on 25th April near his home, revealing the insecurity for militias who are not being housed in the transition zones.
We furthermore condemn the fact that relatives of FARC members are also being targeted in the cruellest ways imaginable. Over the last month six relatives have been tortured and killed; including a fourteen year old girl. We call on the Colombian government to investigate these horrific crimes and provide adequate protection measures for relatives of FARC members.

These killings represent a grave threat to the ceasefire and implementation of the agreements, and we call on Colombian and the international bodies monitoring the peace deal to urgently investigate and prevent any delays in implementation. We once again reiterate our full support for the Colombian peace process and the Colombian people as they work towards a lasting peace.

We also call on the Colombian government to urgently put into effect the protection measures agreed in the final peace deal; in particular the unit to dismantle criminal organisations and paramilitary successor groups who are responsible for the ongoing attacks against human rights defenders, social leaders and those involved in the implementation of the peace agreements. Recent reports indicate that up to 42 community leaders and activists have been assassinated so far this year in Colombia.

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HDP Parliamentary deputies
Ertuğrul Kürkçü, İzmir, Honorary Chair, MP Council of Europe PA
Filiz Kerestecioğlu, İstanbul, Vice Parliamentary Group Chair,  MP Council of Europe PA

Ahmet Yıldırım, Muş, Vice Parliamentary Group Chair,

Ziya Pir, Diyarbakır, MP NATO PA

Hüda Kaya, İstanbul,

Lezgin Botan, Van

Alican Önlü, Tunceli

Leyla Birlik, Şırnak

Mehmet Ali Aslan, Batman

Dilek Öcalan, Şanlıurfa

İbrahim Ayhan, Şanlıurfa

Dirayet Dilan Taşdemir, Ağrı, HDP Women’s Parliamentary Group Chair

Nadir Yıldırım, HDP Vice Chair
Meral Danış Beştaş, Adana

Bedia Özgökçe Ertan, Van

Nihat Akdoğan, Hakkari

Feleknaz Uca, Batman, MP Council of Europe PA
Pervin Buldan, İstanbul, Vice Parliament Speaker

Müslim Doğan, İzmir, Former Minister of Development
Saadet Becerekli, Batman

Mahmut Toğrul, Gaziantep

Behçet Yıldırım, Adıyaman

Hişyar Özsoy, Bingöl, HDP Vice Chair, MP Council of Europe PA, MP COSCE PA

Mithat Sancar, Mardin

Mizgin Irgat, Bitlis

Aycan İrmez, Şırnak
Sibel Yiğitalp, Diyarbakır

Mehmet Emin Adıyaman, Iğdır

Adem Geveri, Van

 

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