Colombia's war crimes tribunal opens case on extermination of leftist party
by Stephen Gill March 5, 2019
Colombias war crimes tribunal on Monday opened a case to investigate the virtual extermination of the leftist political party Patriotic Union (UP) by paramilitary groups and state forces, which began in the 1980s.
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), which was set up as a key element of a peace deal with the now-demobilized FARC guerrillas, will pursue the case that relates to the genocide of more than 3,000 people that has already been condemned by international courts.
The case entitled Victimization of members of the Patriotic Union (UP) by agents of the State will aim to find those responsible as three reports point to a systematic practice at national level, according to Judge Catalina Diaz of the JEP.
Systematic murder and state responsibility
The UP was a political party formed by the FARC and non-violent leftist forces after a peace agreement was reached in 1985 and sought the transition of the guerrilla group into a political party.
More:
https://colombiareports.com/colombias-war-crimes-tribunal-opens-case-on-extermination-of-leftist-party/