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A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 24 sepTember 2019
Colombia ex-rebels testify on kidnappings at peace tribunal

By CHRISTINE ARMARIO bombings and arrests. He
CÉSAR GARCÍA said the “dynamics of war”
Associated Press compelled them to target
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — civilians who could ad-
Former combatants for Co- vance the rebels’ political
lombia’s once-largest rebel and economic goals.
army asked for forgiveness “We’re not looking to justify
Monday as they acknowl- any conduct that violates
edged kidnappings during international humanitarian
the nation’s long civil con- law, but to let it be known
flict at a special tribunal in our own words the objec-
created by the peace pro- tive reasons that led many
cess. Colombians to form what
Eleven former rebels gave was the FARC,” he said, re-
the Special Peace Jurisdic- ferring to the group’s Span-
tion three file folders offer- ish acronym.
ing the first joint, written tes- Londoño added that the
timony outlining the guer- testimony provided Mon-
rilla army’s responsibility in day came after many
kidnappings of politicians, months of meetings, inter-
soldiers and civilians. views and questioning at
“We are reflecting deeply demobilization zones scat-
over the acts of war so that tered around the country.
we can ask for forgiveness Accompanied by his wife Johana Castro and their child, former rebel leader commander Rodrigo The written account does
for the errors committed,” Londono arrives to appear before Colombia’s special peace tribunal to testify in an ongoing not provide details on indi-
said Rodrigo Londoño, alias probe of their role in civilian kidnappings in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019. vidual cases. However, he
Timochenko, the guerrilla Associated Press said ex-rebels expect to of-
army’s former leader who dead. Londoño showed up investigating, judging and mon practice used to ex- fer a more detailed docu-
is now spearheading their at the Special Peace Tribu- handing out sentences for tort money from families mentation on kidnappings
nascent political party. nal in Bogotá carrying a car the most serious war crimes. and show control of the in the months ahead.
The testimony comes as seat for his infant son and Thus far, it has opened a civilian population. Victims “In the name of the men
cracks in Colombia’s still- promising magistrates that half dozen cases against included high-profile politi- and women who formed
fragile peace process con- despite the obstacles most leftist guerrillas and military cians like Ingrid Betancourt, our organization, we as-
tinue to emerge. A small ex-rebels are committed to officers. Most of the 9,700 who was abducted while sume collective ethical
cadre of ex-rebel com- providing a complete ac- ex-rebels who have vowed campaigning for president. and political responsibil-
manders officially aban- count of war crimes. to cooperate will avoid any Some kidnapping victims ity for the harm done,” he
doned the historic accord “After decades of fratri- jail time by providing a full were rescued while others said.
recently and announced cidal violence, no one can confession. were killed or remain miss- The 2016 peace accord
they are rearming. Vast say there was a winner,” he The first case concerns kid- ing. ending Latin America’s
stretches of remote, rural said, reading a statement nappings that Revolution- Londoño described the ab- longest-running conflict
land remain in the control before the tribunal. “To the ary Armed Forces of Co- ductions as an “unfortunate calls for a three-pronged
of illegal armed groups contrary, entire genera- lombia rebels committed practice” the rebel army approach to document-
fighting over drug routes. tions were condemned to between 1993 and 2012, a tried to keep at a minimum. ing a conflict so immense
Meanwhile, many former all types of humiliating vio- time when the rebel army But as time stretched on, that a full reckoning of all
combatants transitioning to lence. All of us lost.” was expanding. the guerrillas grew increas- crimes committed is virtu-
civilian life have turned up The tribunal is tasked with Kidnappings were a com- ingly weakened by military ally impossible.q

Rio family buries girl killed by stray bullet; police blamed

By DIANE JEANTET shocked many Brazilians, say they were attacked
Associated Press even though they are ac- from various directions and
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — customed to high levels of were responding to gunfire.
An 8-year-old girl who was violence in their society. They have not said whether
killed by a stray bullet in a Justice Minister Sérgio Moro a police bullet killed Félix.
Rio de Janeiro shantytown said the government has An investigation is under-
was buried on Sunday been working hard to re- way. State officials said
amid allegations that she duce killings and “prevent Sunday the girl’s parents, as
was hit by police fire. such events from recur- well as the van driver and
Several hundred people ring.” other witnesses, have testi-
attended the funeral of Gilmar Mendes, a judge on fied, while police officers
Ágatha Sales Félix, who Brazil’s top court, said on will testify on Monday.
died Friday after she was Twitter that killings by police There are no reports of oth-
shot in the back while riding in the slums are “alarming” er casualties in the incident.
in a van in the Complexo and he questioned security Separately, a police officer
do Alemao slum. An uncle of 8-year-old Ágatha Sales Félix shouts and cries during policies in Rio de Janeiro. died in a hospital on Sun-
Some mourners carried her burial at the cemetery in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Sept. Residents and Félix’s fam- day after he was injured in
a large banner that said 22, 2019. ily blame local police for an operation in the Com-
“Stop killing us,” a refer- Associated Press her death, saying they only plexo de Alemao slum last
ence to growing concern police. Authorities defend to a reduction in violent heard a single shot when week, the G1 news web-
about the increasing use their hardline tactics, say- crime. she was hit. site reported. It cited local
of lethal force by Brazilian ing they have contributed The death of the girl Police officers, however, health officials.q