Liz McManus
Question:126 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the murder of trade unionists (details supplied) with the Columbian authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23742/01]
Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
I understand that Carmen Pungo and her partner were two of the 61 Colombian trade unionists murdered since the beginning of this year.
In common with our EU partners and the wider international community, we have strongly condemned the persistent and increasing attacks by paramilitaries against human rights defenders in Colombia, including trade unionists. While we welcome the measures undertaken by the Colombian ministry of the interior to protect social and human rights defenders, including the establishment of a new protection programme for trade union activists and journalists, in addition to the existing and broader Special Programme for the Protection of Witnesses and Threatened Persons, we urge the Colombian authorities to take action to ensure that these measures are fully implemented and adequately funded.
The EU will continue to stress to the Colombian authorities the need to address the lack of effective judicial investigations into crimes against social and human rights defenders, as well as the insufficient legal, administrative, security and financial measures to protect those social and human rights defenders who find themselves at risk.
On 30 July 2001, the following statement was issued on behalf of the European Union by the Belgian Presidency:
The European Union wishes to express its deep concern at the mounting violence in Colombia, befalling foreign aid workers, international officials and Colombian citizens involved in the search for peace and in assisting the civilian population.
The holding up of a UN vehicle and abduction of one it its occupants and the abduction of three German aid workers are the latest in a long line of other unlawful detentions of EU nationals and killings of foreign nationals, journalists and many Colombian citizens.
These incidents seriously jeopardise the peace process and openly flout elementary principles of international law.
They seriously compromise the international community's support for Colombia's peace process, hamper the facilitator countries' role and place unnecessary obstacles in the way of implementation of the European Union support programme announced in Brussels on 30 April 2001 and of bilateral co-operation projects.
Such acts, moreover, serve only to strengthen the hand of those opposed to peace.
The European Union urgently appeals for all hostages to be released without delay and for their physical integrity to be respected.
The European Union furthermore calls on all parties concerned to renounce all forms of violence and to commit themselves to resolving their differences through positive, constructive dialogue.
This emphasis on full respect for human rights will continue to underpin Ireland's policy toward Colombia, as well as our contribution to the EU Programme of Support for the peace process in Colombia.