PARLIAMENTARY DECLARATION

For the right to political opposition, work for peace and respect of the separation of powers in Colombia

Four parliamentarians of the Colombian opposition, Piedad Cordoba, Alvaro Leyva, Gloria Inés Ramirez and Wilson Borja, the journalist Carlos Lozano, and other personalities who are doing widely recognised work in favour of a humanitarian solution and a peace agreement, have been accused by the General Prosecutor of having links with the FARC.

A Swiss delegate, known for his diplomatic work in favour of peace, has also been publicly accused of having links with the FARC when he expressed opinions contrary to the government's wishes.

Some attacks were also directed at the Supreme Court of Justice, that has issued a number of decisions on the links between politicians and paramilitaries, and about acts of corruption that allowed the re-election of President Uribe in 2006.

As Members of the European Parliament, we reject these forms of persecution that are obstacles to the peace process. We express our full solidarity with the parliamentarians, journalists and other personalities prosecuted for their political opinions, and we reiterate our support for their work in favour of a peaceful solution to the Colombian conflict.

We also ask the representatives of the EU in Colombia to insist with the authorities of this country that the right of political opposition must be respected, that actions for humanitarian work must be allowed, and that the government respect the independence of the Supreme Court of Justice and apply its decisions.

- Vittorio Agnoletto,
MEP for Italy, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament

- Giusto Catania,
Member for Italy, Vice president of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

- Hélène Flautre,
MEP for France, President of the Sub-committee on Human Rights

- Monica Frassoni ,
MEP for Italy, President of the Greens / European Free Alliance Parliamentary Group

- Vicente Garcés,
MEP for Spain, Member of the Committee on Budgets

- Pedro Guerreiro ,
MEP for Portugal , Member of the Committee on Regional Development

- Jens Holm ,
MEP for Sweden, Member of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Richard Howitt,
MEP for the United Kingdom, Vice-president of the Sub-committee on Human Rights

- Helmuth Markov,
MEP for Germany, President of the Committee on International Trade

- Willy Meyer-Pleite,
MEP for Spain, Vice-president of the bi-regional Parliamentary Assembly EUROLAT

- Luisa Morgantini,
MEP for Italy, Vice-president of the European Parliament

- Josu Ortuondo Larrea,
MEP for Spain, Member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism

- Raul Romeva ,
MEP for Spain, Member of the Committee on Womens' Rights and Gender Equality

- Eva-Britt Svensson,
MEP for Sweden, Vice-president of the Committee on Womens' Rights and Gender Equality

- Francis Wurtz,
MEP for France, President of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left Parliamentary Group

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