Colombia accepts role in 1980s killings of leftist politicians
Source: Associated Press
Colombia accepts role in 1980s killings of leftist politicians
Fri Sep 16, 2016 | 2:49am BST
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Thursday acknowledged the state's responsibility in the killing of thousands of members of a leftist political party three decades ago and pledged to prevent such assassinations again.
Santos' statement comes less than two weeks before he will sign a peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), whose members were killed following a previous peace agreement in the mid 1980s when they formed the Patriotic Union (UP) political party.
Some 5,000 UP members and supporters were killed by right-wing paramilitary groups, often working with state backing.
"That tragedy should never have happened, and we must recognise that the government didn't take sufficient measures to impede and prevent the assassinations, attacks and other violations even though there was evidence the persecution was taking place," Santos said during an event where 200 survivors and family members of UP victims were present.
Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-colombia-rebels-idUKKCN11M04C?rpc=401
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)I've had arguments in the past with right-wing assholes who refused to accept the idea that a right-wing government could be anything other than a utopia.
The slaughter of union leaders in Columbia was one of my examples that has been dismissed as nonsense.
Judi Lynn
(160,621 posts)All they have to do to affirm their beliefs, you could tell them, is to do their homework, invest in a little research. My god.
If they had any idea how wildly deeply in the dark they are, they would be ashamed to ever bring it up to you again.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Who am I kidding?
enough
(13,262 posts)Texano78704
(309 posts)Yet another reason for Alvaro Uribe to hate President Santos. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Uribe has some links to the assassinations.