Left-wing political party member allegedly tortured by police in Colombia capital

[Judi Lynn]

Left-wing political party member allegedly tortured by police in Colombia capital
posted by Mimi Yagoub
Jan 23, 2014

The Metropolitan Police is investigating an alleged politically motivated attack by police forces on a member of Colombia’s leftist Union Patriotica political party in the early hours of Monday morning.

Founded 30 years ago by Colombia’s Communist Party and the FARC, the country’s oldest rebel group, the Union Patriotica (UP) has been a historical target of state-sponsored political violence.

Aida Avella, the UP’s first presidential candidate in 16 years, told Colombian press on Tuesday that a porter at party headquarters was attacked and tortured by policemen in Bogota, who called him a “communist” while beating him.

At the same press conference, UP House of Representatives candidate Jaime Caicedo claimed that the policemen — based in Bogota’s Teusaquillo a locality — entered the URI Puente Aranda City Hall illegally at 1:09 a.m. on Monday.

More:
http://colombiareports.co/left-wing-political-party-member-tortured-colombia-police/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Earlier in the UP Party's history, from the article:

One year after being recognized as a political party in 1986, it became the target of a massive and bloody assassination campaign in which thousands of its members, including two presidential candidates, were systematically murdered by right-wing paramilitary groups, drug cartels, and members of the armed forces, often acting in direct cooperation with government authorities.

[Judi Lynn]

2. FARC sees assassination of 29 left-wing political party members as threat to peace process

FARC sees assassination of 29 left-wing political party members as threat to peace process
posted by Taran Volckhausen
Jan 23, 2014

Colombia’s FARC rebel group denounced the assassinations of 29 members of the left-wing Marcha Patriotica party that occurred during 2013, calling on the government to increase security measures for the party or risk jeopardizing faith in the larger peace process.

In a statement released Wednesday, the country’s oldest rebel group reacted to comments made by ex-Senator and March Patriotica founder Piedad Cordoba signaling that the threat of violence aimed at members of her leftist political party may lead to its disbandment.

Lamenting the state’s lack of action to halt the political violence, the FARC said the continued assassination and intimidation of civilian political figures undermined the second agreement reached thus far in ongoing peace talks with the Colombian government in Havana, which provides for channels of political participation for a demobilized FARC and guarantees the rights of political opposition in Colombia.

“We are anxious here in Havana, where we signed a partial agreement with President Juan Manuel Santos to expand democracy and political participation in Colombia, because the facts alleged by the leader of Marcha contradicts our agreement,” said the FARC. “It’s a lack of awareness of the State’s duties, and a bad signal that continues to undermine our trust in the government’s word.”

More:
http://colombiareports.co/farc-denounces-assassination-29-left-wing-political-party-members/