Colombia’s JEP points first particular person sentences underneath 2016 peace deal, specializing in victims’ justice and reconciliation.
Bogota, Colombia – Seven ex-leaders of the demobilised Colombian FARC rebels have been convicted over the kidnappings of tens of 1000’s of individuals throughout their half-century of battle with the state.
The selections, handed down on Tuesday by Colombia’s transitional justice physique, the Particular Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), mark the primary particular person sentences imposed within the restorative justice course of set out within the 2016 peace deal.
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The JEP, established in 2017, issued “correct sanctions” on the seven former rebels, sentencing them to eight years of reparations – compulsory work serving to clear land mines and seek for lacking individuals.
Greater than 450,000 individuals died within the greater than 50-year conflict, in line with Colombia’s Reality Fee, with greater than 50,000 documented kidnappings between 1990 and 2018. The FARC is believed to be chargeable for 40 p.c of those kidnappings.
“These defendants have been declared to be probably the most senior leaders of the FARC-EP and criminally accountable of their capability as perpetrators of the battle crimes of hostage-taking and homicide,” the JEP wrote in a press release.
The seven sanctioned FARC leaders are Rodrigo Londono Echeverri, Pablo Catatumbo Torres Victoria, Pastor Lisandro Alape Lascarro, Milton de Jesus Toncel Redondo, Jaime Alberto Parra, Julian Gallo Cubillos, and Rodrigo Granda Escobar.
Londono, whose alias is Timochenko, was the FARC’s high commander, whereas Catatumbo and Gallo are serving senators in seats allotted by the 2016 peace deal.
“9 years after the peace settlement, a transitional court docket has now lastly laid down what these different penalties will appear to be,” stated Elizabeth Dickinson, senior Colombia analyst at Worldwide Disaster Group.
Dickinson stated that the JEP’s sentences set an instance for what restorative justice seems to be like within the context of Colombia’s peace deal, specializing in giving victims a way of justice.
As a part of their reparation work, the previous rebels have been additionally ordered to work on initiatives preserving the reminiscences of victims and help authorities with humanitarian demining and figuring out disappeared individuals.
Moreover, the previous leaders will face restrictions on their motion, with digital trackers and schedules to make sure they adjust to their reparations work.
“In some methods [it] helps reinvigorate the 2016 peace process, as a result of actually, with out the potential of justice, it has been very onerous to type of transfer ahead with the thought of ending a battle by peace,” added Dickinson.
Whereas most FARC fighters have been granted amnesty as a part of the peace deal, the group’s management agreed to partake in a restorative justice course of. This included laying down arms, helping with truth-finding, accepting the crimes they have been charged with, and never returning to fight.
Those that have absolutely cooperated with truth-telling face between 5 and eight years of reparation work, whereas those that haven’t complied might be sentenced to a most of 20 years in jail.
Right this moment’s ruling concludes considered one of 11 so-called “macrocases” that the JEP is investigating. The court docket is anticipated to announce particular person sentences in opposition to former authorities troopers on Thursday.
