The Presidential Adviser for Stabilization and Consolidation, Emilio Archila answered the questions that Rodrigo Londoño, political leader of the Common Political Party, made through a letter sent to U.S. congressmen.
“We comply with facts,” was Archila’s response, while lamenting that these questions were unfamiliar with aspects such as victim support. the substitution of illicit crops and the advances in Integral Rural Development.
“All calls for the international community to know the details and continue to align with Peace Legally are welcome. We are interested in continuing this relationship, which is not of government but of state between Colombia and the United States. All U.S. government support programs are aligned with Peace Legally and in the mouth of the Ambassador, nearly one trillion dollars has been invested in this period, ”the minister noted.
(Read: Tymoshenko goes to US Congress to point out breach of peace)
In the letter to the United States Congress, Londoño points out that there is a breach of three basic aspects of the Agreement: the killings of ex-combatants and lack of guarantees for their safety; the “constant attacks of the ruling party on the transitional justice system, and the lack of economic opportunities in rural areas.
In this regard, Archila said that in terms of security and protection of ex-combatants the goal is to reach zero attacks. “In 2020 the number of murders decreased by 10 percent and in the course of 2021 there is a clear downward trend (…) we have 52 special security measures; 298 individual and collective protection schemes.”
(You may be interested in: ‘Dignifying Victims’: de Roux on Timochenko-Mancuso meeting)
With respect to the actions of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, JEP,
Archila argued that “we have been respectful of the autonomy and independence of transitional justice. We have said and demonstrated this. Despite the covid that affected other government budgets, we have maintained the budgets of JEP, Truth Commission and the Missing Persons Search Unit “.
(Read: JEP: Displacement, which has risen the most since signing the agreement)
And in relation to the areas affected by the violence, the presidential adviser assured that the Development Programs with Territorial Focus, PDET, have not stopped and are advancing solidly. And he added that in the 170 PDET municipalities 5.1 trillion pesos are being mobilized from different sources, such as works for taxes, royalty resources and budget plotter. It is a joint effort with communities, the private sector, government resources, local authorities and the international community. “
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