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23Jun14

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Investigation into Colombian Security Files Demanded

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Belgian non governmental organization Nizkor urged Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to open a "swift, effective" investigation into "missing or distroyed" digital documents and files of the former Administrative Security Department (DAS).

In a 17-point document, Nizkor stressed the need to clear up what happened with those files that would constitute evidence about illegal tapping and monitoring of opposition magistrates, journalists and leaders committed under the government of former President Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010), currently a senator-elect.

"This is the only way to determine underlying criminal responsibilities and the real knowledge about the operation of that criminal organization (in terms of international law).

Nizkor requests from Santos and other relevant authorities the identification of people behing those events, as well as the ruling of disciplinary or criminal measures.

The text also recalls the denunciations made by journalist Claudia Julieta Duque, who warned last Wednesday of the "disappearance or hiding of those digital files" in the wake of a judicial inspection of the process opened for psychological torture against her by DAS agents.

"In 2009, the entire file of the DAS Information System (Sifdas) was 54 Gb and it included, among others, the data base with evidence about illegal monitoring and spying on ther so-called DAS targets," said the communique.

However, it added, during a judicial inspection in June 18 "only 91 megabytes were found, including the fingerprints cards of all citizens, stored by the National Registry, and the resumes of DAS officials and the comings and goings of people in the DAS headquarters."

The Belgian NGO expresses concern "about the causes why those files were not protected.

"The loss, concealment and/or destruction of Sifdas information prevents the indentification of new perpetrators of the serious attacks of which Duque was a victim," and it also prevents the provision of evidence of other human rights violations committed by DAS and the reconstruction of who and under which arguments the persecution of opposition civil society in Colombia was ordered and executed, adds the text.

[Source: Prensa Latina, Bogota, 23Jun14]

DDHH en Colombia

This document has been published on 24Jun14 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.