PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Colombia (2 January 2015)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on (a) collusion between members of the Colombian security forces and post-demobilisation paramilitary groups in the Uraba region and (b) attacks perpetrated by post-demobilisation paramilitary groups against (i) leaders of land restitution claims and (ii) other human rights defenders.

Asked by:
Kerry McCarthy (Labour)

In September 2014, British Officials in Bogotá attended a meeting between the Colombian Minister of the Interior and non-government organisations (NGOs) that work with the Curvaradó community in Urabá. The NGOs expressed concern about coalitions of local armed groups, business leaders, politicians and the military, who were blocking implementation of court orders, and threatening leaders and land restitution claimants. The NGO coalition ‘We are Defenders’ reported that during 2013 there were 78 murders of Human Rights Defenders of which 15 were carried out by paramilitary successor groups.

The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), Minister for our relations with Colombia, raised concerns about this with his opposite numbers at the Colombian Foreign Ministry when he visited Bogotá last year. The British Embassy also raises these and other cases with Colombian authorities regularly.

Answered by:
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Conservative)
7 January 2015