92000E4139

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4139/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 January 2001)

Subject: Colombian jail release - Tristan James Murray and Javier Nova

Bearing in mind Commissioners Nielson's and Patten's correspondence with Mrs Doyle in August and September on the subject of the disappearance of Tristan James Murray and Javier Nova, members of the Atlantis Community in Colombia and bearing in mind the horrific murder of Tristan James Murray and Javier Nova in Columbia at the hands of left wing guerrillas and given that the two Sanabria Guerrero brothers who carried out these murders have recently been released from prison in Colombia after serving just one month in prison, could the Commission through its Bogota office please contact the Fiscalia, the public prosecutor, for an immediate explanation the release of the Sanabria Guerrero brothers?

In the light of the EU's involvement in the Plan Colombia operation and in the light of the human rights record and the judicial system currently operating in Colombia, could the Commission confirm that it will make the grave concerns of Mrs Doyle, known to President Pastrana and use it's influence in the region to ensure that justice is done in this case?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2001)

As the Commission has already expressed on several occasions, it deeply deplores the murder of the young Tristan Murray and Javier Nova.

The Commission has already contacted the Fiscalía in Colombia. Mrs Carmen Gonzales, Director of the Investigation Department stated that the case is currently being examined. The Commission will, of course, follow up on this issue and keep the Honourable Member informed about further developments.

As to the grave concerns expressed by the Honourable Member and the problem of human rights violations in general, the Union will continue to stress the importance of making progress in this field to its Colombian interlocutors.