A magistrate of the Central Investigating Court Number 6 explained that the admission was made “for the sole purpose” of offering the victim’s relatives the possibility to sue the candidate for president of Colombia, since the Prosecutor’s Office refused to do so
Colombian left-wing presidential candidate Gustavo Petro of the Historic Pact coalition and vice-presidential candidate Francia Márquez react after Petro won the first round of presidential elections in Bogotá, Colombia, on May 29, 2022. REUTERS/Santiago Arcos
The judge of the National Court Joaquín Gadea has admitted a complaint filed against the left-wing Colombian presidential candidate Gustavo Petro for the alleged kidnapping of the journalist Fernando González Pacheco by the guerrilla organization M-19, in which the politician was a member.
In an order dated May 19, to which Europa Press has had access, the reinforcement judge of the Central Investigation Court Number 6 explains that the admission occurs “to the sole effects” of offering the journalist’s relatives the possibility of suing after the Prosecutor’s Office has refused to do so.
In fact, legal sources have explained that the Public Prosecutor’s Office has resorted to an appeal by not appreciating the connection of the facts with the jurisdiction of the court.
The admission The processing of this complaint has been made known one day after Petro has achieved victory in the first round of the presidential elections in Colombia after obtaining 40.32 percent of the votes.
Fernando González Pacheco
The journalist –on an unspecified date between 1977 and 1990– would have been kidnapped by the guerrillas and later released. González Pacheco, who enjoyed great fame in Colombia, died in Bogotá in 2014 due to a heart complication.
The relationship that connects these events with the National Court is, points out the magistrate, that open sources point out that González was born in Spain. However, and to corroborate it, the magistrate orders the Police to check if the journalist “had Spanish nationality at the time of the reported events.”
Additionally, Judge Gadea requests that it be ascertained –with the help of the Colombian authorities– if Petro “enjoys the status of amnestied or pardoned, and especially, if he has been investigated, acquitted or convicted for the facts” that are investigated. And, in addition, it offers Petro himself to appear in this capacity in the present procedure in order to defend himself.
”HARDLY ASSUMABLE” FOR THE AN
However, and taking into account the rejection of the Prosecutor’s Office, the magistrate makes it clear that it will be the practice of these proceedings that will allow “to clarify, without a doubt, the competence of the Spanish jurisdiction, and specifically”, of the Court for “check if its investigation is procedurally possible.”
The complaint filed by François Roger Cavard against Petro, picks up the car, charges the leader with committing crimes initially classified as crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. REUTERS/Santiago Arcos
Of course, despite the “overwhelming factual account described in the complaint” the judge warns that the “extension and apparent lack of points of connection with the Spanish jurisdiction” allows “to venture that his knowledge” is “hardly assumable by this Central Court of Instruction”.
The complaint filed by François Roger Cavard against Petro, collects the order, charges the leader with committing crimes initially classified as crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.
In it, the complainant recounts that Petro “would have been a member” of the extinct guerrilla M-19, who for at least two decades (between the 70s and 80s) systematically and indiscriminately used the kidnapping of people, as well as the torture and intentional murder with the aim of destroying those they considered their enemy.”
THE REPORTED FACTS
In his writing, he assures that the “human rights violations committed by Petro Urrego in Colombia during the 70s and 80s that produced a tragic and shameful balance of thousands of people executed, thousands of others tortured, and thousands of disappeared victims, are still in impunity”< /b>.
The “human rights violations committed by Petro Urrego in Colombia during the 1970s and 1980s, which resulted in a tragic and shameful balance of thousands of people executed, thousands of others tortured, and thousands of disappeared victims, are still in impunity.” (Colprensa – Camila Díaz)
Specifically, the time frame in which the defendant places the events includes the years 1977 to 1990 and would encompass both actions committed inside Colombia and properly attributed to the organization M-19 and actions committed in association with paramilitary groups.
Despite the extensive account and review of alleged criminal acts committed by the group, the judge makes it clear that “only the case of the kidnapping of the journalist would result (at this time) with an apparent link with the Spanish Jurisdiction.”
(with information from EP)