The number of accusations of extrajudicial killings or ‘false positives’ has decreased throughout Colombia since October 2008, informed the Government in report to the UN Security Council.
In a statement reported by newspaper El Espectador on Tuesday, the Colombian Army stated that the Government of President Alvaro Uribe acted swiftly in response to the number of ‘false positives’ and made tough decisions which resulted in a large number of Armed Forces members being sacked. Increased control measures were also introduced to ensure the prevention of future crimes committed by the Public Forces outside the realm of combat.
The range of extrajudicial executions became known in October last year after Prosecution investigators discovered a mass grave of victims in the north of Colombia. The Government, who had denied the existence of ‘false positives’ until then, immediately purged the military.
In its report to the UN, the Government now states that civil-military campaigns “contribute to strengthening the relationship between the civil population and the State” and thus, Colombian authorities wished the UN would emphasize the significant progress that the Public Forces have made with regard to the respect of human rights.
Finally, concerning the ‘false positives’ scandal, which implcates more than a thousand policemen and soldiers in the murders of civilians, the Government intends these cases to be considered as “isolated incidents” which remain under investigation. The UN earlier called the extrajudicial executions of civilians “widespread and systematic.”
Allegedly the document concluded by reiterating President Uribe’s dedication to ensuring “full respect of human rights for all Colombians.”