E/CN.4/1995/111
page 3
Introduction
1.
On 29 July 1993, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions, Mr. Bacre Waly Ndiaye, sent a letter to the Government
of Colombia in which he expressed concern at persistent allegations of
violations of the right to life in that country and reports according to which
the recommendations formulated by his predecessor, Mr. S. Amos Wako, after his
visit to Colombia in 1989, had not been implemented. The Special Rapporteur
inquired whether the Government would consider inviting him to carry out a
second visit to Colombia, with the purpose of examining the evolution of the
situation since 1989 and following up on the recommendations formulated by
Mr. Wako. In a letter dated 22 September 1993, the Special Rapporteur
reiterated his interest in carrying out a visit to Colombia, and
on 4 February 1994 the Government extended the corresponding invitation.
2.
The Special Rapporteur on the question of torture, Mr. Nigel S. Rodley,
also expressed concern, in a letter transmitted to the Government
on 29 March 1994, at allegations received in the framework of his mandate.
In the same letter, he inquired whether the Government would invite him to
undertake a visit to the country. An invitation was subsequently extended to
him by note verbale dated 18 May 1994.
3.
In a letter dated 24 August 1994, the Special Rapporteur on
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions suggested to the Government of
Colombia that his visit take place from 17 to 26 October 1994 and proposed
that it be carried out jointly with the Special Rapporteur on the question of
torture, as both Special Rapporteurs felt that the assessment of the situation
and the analysis of questions relating to the protection of the right to life
and the right to physical integrity would benefit from cooperation between the
two Rapporteurs. In a letter dated 12 September 1994, the Government
expressed its agreement to a joint mission at the dates suggested by
Mr. Ndiaye.
4.
The Special Rapporteurs spent eight days in Bogota, during which time
they met the following government representatives: the President of the
Republic; the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Justice, Defence and the Interior
(Ministro de Gobierno); the Procurador General de la Nación and the
Procuradores Delegados for Human Rights, the Armed Forces and the
Vigilancia Judicial; the Fiscal General de la Nación and his deputies; the
Defensor del Pueblo and his Director de Quejas; the High Command of the
Colombian security forces; the Presidential Adviser for Human Rights; the High
Commissioner for Peace; the President of the Supreme Court; officials of the
Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad (DAS); and the Director of the
Instituto Nacional Penitenciatio y Carcelario (INPEC).
5.
Most meetings in Bogota were held jointly by both Special Rapporteurs.
In the interest of using the short time available in the most efficient way,
the Special Rapporteurs conducted separate visits outside the Capital District
of Bogota. Thus, on 19 October 1994, the Special Rapporteur on the question
of torture visited Barrancabermeja, while the Special Rapporteur on
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions travelled to Arauca on 19 and
20 October 1994 and to Cali on 23 and 24 October 1994. During these visits,
the Special Rapporteurs met with the governors or their representatives of the