Press Release - UN Verification Mission in Colombia.

10 Apr 2018

Press Release - UN Verification Mission in Colombia.

Bogotá, 09 April 2018. The UN Verification Mission in Colombia is following closely the latest events regarding the detention of Mr. Seuxis Paucis Hernández Solarte, known as Jesús Santrich, as well as reactions to these events in the Territorial Areas for Training and Reintegration where FARC members are undergoing their reintegration process.

According to the Attorney General’s statement, the capture was undertaken pursuant to an international order issued through an INTERPOL red circular soliciting extradition, regarding events that occurred after the signing of the Peace Agreement.

The Verification Mission calls attention to Legislative Act which establishes the Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition, as revised by the Constitutional Court. In its Transitory Article 19 regarding extradition, it states: "When it is alleged, with respect to a member of the FARC-EP or a person accused of being a member of this organization, that the conduct attributed in the extradition request occurred after the signing of the Final Agreement, the Review Section of the Tribunal for Peace will evaluate the attributed conduct to determine the precise date of its execution and decide the appropriate procedure".

Furthermore, the Mission highlights that in a statement to the media, Patricia Linares, President of the Special Peace Jurisdiction for Peace (SPJ), confirmed the authority of the SPJ to review the case in order to arrive at an assessment determining whether, considering the date of the facts and their analysis, the case should be referred to the ordinary courts.

The Mission calls on the relevant State institutions to evaluate all of the relevant facts with the greatest discernment, considering that the decisions taken will have profound consequences for the peace process in Colombia.

Within the framework of its mandate, the UN Verification Mission will continue to monitor this situation.

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