91997E4108

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4108/97 by Gianfranco Dell'Alba (ARE) to the Commission (16 January 1998)

Subject: Trial for the killing of the Italian Giacomo Turra in Colombia on 3 September 1995

15 December 1997 will see the start of the court-martial at the Military Tribunal in Cartagena, Colombia, which will finally try 5 policemen charged with the manslaughter of the European citizen Giacomo Turra who died there at the age of 24.

After various attempts by the Colombian authorities to have it shelved, the trial is to take place thanks to the intervention not only of the Italian Government but also of numerous international human rights organizations.

The Commission recently granted Colombia $5 million in humanitarian aid in return for an undertaking to improve compliance with human rights, and the trial is undoubtedly important proof of the Colombian state's determination to combat the impunity with which it is characterized.

Does the Commission not think it would be an idea to take advantage of the opportunity to send observers to the trial to ascertain that the legal proceedings respect human rights?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (4 February 1998)

The Commission is watching with some concern the human rights situation in Colombia, which remains unsatisfactory on the whole. It will be keeping a close eye on the trial of Mr Turra's alleged killers through its delegation in Bogotá, in coordination with the Member States' diplomatic representations there.

The Commission assigns top priority to initiatives aimed at strengthening the machinery for protecting human rights in Colombia and to monitoring infringements of those rights. That aim is achieved in three ways: by beefing up the presence of the international community (additional funding of the international observer team made available to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and responsible for monitoring the human rights situation throughout the country); by financing initiatives for local NGOs working in the field of democracy and human rights; and through structural aid for the administration of justice.

As for the humanitarian aid programme referred to by the Honourable Member, it should be stressed that under the terms of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid ((OJ L 163, 2.7.1996. )), such aid, given its objective, is not guided by or subject to political considerations.

The other forms of aid Colombia receives from the Commission are largely targeted at the most disadvantaged sections of the population. The Commission enlists the help of a large number of local and international NGOs in implementing its aid.

It should be stressed that Colombia is signatory to a regional cooperation agreement with the Community which subjects Community aid to observance of human rights.