FARC Leaders Take Responsibility for Kidnappings

Bogota, Sep 24 (AFP) Former FARC leaders formally recognised at a special tribunal on Monday "ethical and political responsibility" for thousands of kidnappings carried out during Colombia's long conflict.

At a hearing in Bogota, Rodrigo "Timoshenko" Londono -- FARC ex-commander and now leader of the movement's political party -- handed written testimony to the Special Jurisdiction for Peace purportedly detailing thousands of kidnappings.

"We recognise the existence of civilian retentions and assume on behalf of the men and women who were part of the organisation, our collective ethical and political responsibility for the damage caused to the people and families who were victims of this unfortunate practice," Londono told the hearing.

"We don't want to justify any conduct that was in violation of international humanitarian law, but to make known in our own voice the objective reasons that led many Colombians to build what became FARC," said Londono.

"We have taken a first step in a long process," Londono told the tribunal known by its Spanish acronym JEP, which is examining the period between 1993 and 2012.

The JEP was set up to try former combatants and hand out alternative sentences to prison time if they confess to their crimes, compensate the victims and pledge never to resort to violence again.

Londono was one of the 11 former FARC leaders to take collective responsibility for the kidnappings before the tribunal on Monday.

Londono and other commanders made an initial appearance before the tribunal in July last year, in which they asked victims for forgiveness.

During their long and failed struggle for power, the FARC used abductions to pressure the government and raise cash for their struggle.

The prosecution has documented 6,162 cases of kidnapping, with more than 8,000 victims.

They included military, police and politicians such as Franco-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt, who were kept for years deep in the jungle before being rescued or released.

Many others died in captivity. Colombia's attorney general's office, which has responsibility for human rights, documented 522 deaths in captivity in a report to the tribunal on Monday.

Londono and two other leaders appeared before the tribunal in July last year to ask their victims for forgiveness.

Tribunal Judge Julieta Lemaitre said on Monday the written testimony presented by the FARC commanders would have to explain the reasons that led them to carry out kidnappings, many people they abducted and how much money they received in return for their release.

The tribunal will contrast their evidence with that of prosecutors and victims. (AFP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)