Colombian Attorney General Luz Camargo on Thursday suspended arrest warrants for nine members of the illegal armed group Second Marquetaria in support of ongoing peace negotiations.
Camargo has this power under Resolution 65 of 2024, which emphasizes:
According to Article 2.1.6.3. By virtue of Decree No. 1081 of 2015, the Attorney General as the competent authority shall strictly shall be suspended immediately for a period of time. Request from the country.
According to Law No. 2272 of 2022, promoted by President Gustavo Petro, the government can carry out two types of negotiation processes with illegal armed groups.
(i) Negotiations with extralegal organized armed groups to engage in political dialogue to establish peace agreements. (ii) approach and consult with organized armed groups or organized criminal organizations involved in high-impact crimes with a view to achieving justice and dismantling;
Armed conflict in Colombia has continued for almost 60 years and has left at least 260,000 people dead, despite a peace agreement signed in 2016. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said: “Against the backdrop of the pandemic, the humanitarian impact of armed conflict has worsened and violence against civilians has also occurred in some parts of Colombia. As exposure to risks increases, many communities experienced greater fear.”
Prosecutors said that although the arrest warrant has been temporarily suspended, the ongoing investigation will continue uninterrupted.
