Natasha Stott Despoja (SA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate:

(a)

notes the murder of Mr Dario de Jesus Torres, a member of the San José de Apartadó Peace Community, in Colombia on 13 July 2007;

(b)

recognises that the murder of Mr Torres, and threats to the safety of the peace community, are part of the on-going violence against civilians by guerrilla and paramilitary groups that continues to plague Colombia;

(c)

notes the calls by relevant international bodies including the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Executive Committee of the Program of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights for the Colombian Government to continue to give priority to addressing this situation;

(d)

welcomes the efforts made by the Colombian Government to this end so far, and urges it to continue and strengthen these efforts, including by investigation of Mr Torres’ murder and guaranteeing the security of the peace community; and

(e)

notes that the Australian Government has raised the case of Mr Torres and continued concerns about the safety of the peace community with the Colombian Government in the context of their on-going dialogue on human rights issues and urges the continuation of this dialogue, including in relation to this case.

Question agreed to.