That was stated by President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, after explaining that in the past amnesty and mercy were granted to all demobilized, without considering that their atrocious crimes were not subject of amnesty or mercy. “It is not possible to distinguish between guerrillas and paramilitaries to give a more favorable treatment to any of the two. We believe that is necessary to give them the same treatment”, the Head of State said.

Cartagena, May 6 (SP). Colombia has no legal range to grant amnesty and mercy to the leaders of terrorist guerrillas who have committed atrocious crimes, as it happened before.

That was confirmed by the President of Colombia, Álvaro Uribe Vélez during the ‘First International Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Congress” in Cartagena.

“In this forum is my duty to invite my fellows to a reflection: Colombia has no legal range to offer a law, like the ones of the past, to the leaders of the terrorist guerrillas”, the leader said.

 He explained that the Justice and Peace Law, applied to demobilized paramilitary leaders, did not grant amnesty and mercy for atrocious crimes, as it did happened in the past with all who demobilized.

“In the past, amnesty or mercy was granted to all demobilized, without taking into account, that those atrocious crimes were not subject of amnesty or mercy. In the name of Justice, this law forbids amnesty or mercy for atrocious crimes. It rewards with a short sentence, but it does not grant amnesty or mercy for atrocious crimes”.

“In the past it was not necessary to confess crimes or their allies. That is why a lot of processes are still in impunity, for example, links between crimes and politics. This law demands for the confession of the crimes, demands to know who the accomplices were”, pointed the leader.

He expressed that democracy has indicated that rights can not be recognized in full for those who are responsible of crimes against humanity.

In the past, above the atrocities, it was allow, for those who were in the process, to aspire to any position. This process, in respect for the Constitution of Colombia and the international agreements, is clear: those who are responsible of atrocious crimes can not aspire to positions reached by popular elections”, Uribe Vélez pointed.

As well, he said that guerrillas must receive the same treatment that paramilitaries received in its moment.

“It is not possible to distinguish between guerrillas and paramilitaries to give a more favorable treatment to any of the two. We believe that is necessary to give them the same treatment”, he added.

Uribe Vélez indicated that if a legal range were offered, as in the past, the guerrilla would not use it because “its terrorist delirium has take them to deny a lot of peace offers”

“I believe that the only thing that makes terrorist leaders to demobilize is a strong application of authority. If there is not a strong application of authority, as attractive as the laws can be, there will be no demobilization” the Head of State expressed.

He also asked: “¿What is the legal range to offer them a different legislation? ¿Can we agree with them no confession of their crimes? ¿Can we agree with them to let them aspire to positions above the atrocious crimes that they have committed? ¿Can we grant amnesty to dirty money, which must be dedicated to victims’ reparation?”

Uribe pointed that this Justice and Peace Law can not be apply to the criminal bands of drug trafficking.