Written question asked by Anne Moffat (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 March 2009. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 March 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Colombia: Armed Conflict

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the comments of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that the Colombian security forces are engaged in widespread and systematic killings of civilians.

Answer: [holding answer 16 March 2009]: We share the concerns of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the ongoing problem of abuses committed by members of the Colombian armed forces. I stressed this in a statement on 30 October 2008, in which I said that""It is vital, not least for Colombia's international reputation, that the government and courts continue to show a determination to deal with human rights abuses committed by members of the armed forces, and that those convicted by the civilian justice system are punished appropriately.""I have discussed our concerns with the Colombian vice-president, foreign minister and ambassador to the UK, and officials in our embassy in Bogota have taken a number of opportunities to remind representatives of the Colombian government and armed forces of these concerns.

Secondary information