The Colombian United Nations human rights office Monday called on the
Colombian government to take urgent measures after dozens of missing
persons were found executed by what seems to be the army.
According to the UN, it has already officially informed Colombian authorities of the disappearance of other young people, who ended up being killed by army bullets just shortly after their disappearance. The office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says at least 35 of these extrajudicial executions were reported since February.
“The Office calls on all relevant authorities
to coordinate their efforts to clarify and end the practices and
patterns of apparent judicial executions, adopting urgent measures to
prevent, investigate, punish and publicize the material and
intellectual authors of such acts,” the UN’s High Commissioner says in a press release.
“Should the responsibility of members of public
(security) force be established, either directly or through tolerance,
acquiescence, complicity or support for this type of action, it would
constitute grave violations of human rights,” the press release added.
Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos already announced an internal investigation last week after numerous young people, who had been reported missing from the slums of Bogotá were found reported as killed guerrillas. The people were shot through the head less than 48 hours after they disappeared.
Colombian authorities said Sunday they arrested three members of paramilitary group Águilas Negras for the alleged recruitment of the victims.