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Latin America and the Caribbean

Meeting of the Socialist International Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, Bogotá, Colombia

04-05 October 1999

The Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, SICLAC, met in Santafé de Bogotá, hosted by the Liberal Party of Colombia, PLC, on 4-5 October, with close to thirty parties and organisations participating. (List of participants)

The meeting focused on 'The path to peace and solidarity' as the main theme and the Committee continued its discussions on the priorities for the social democratic agenda in the region.

Luis Guillermo Vélez Trujillo, PLC leader, welcomed delegates and reflected on the challenges for social democrats in his country historically. In terms of the current situation in Colombia, he expressed his party's concerns for the destabilisation and delegitimisation of the State, asserting that "the restoration of that fragmented order" required the support of friendly countries, particularly those with governments led by SI member parties.

Luis Ayala, Secretary General of the International, expressed his satisfaction at the holding of a meeting of the SI in Colombia for the first time. It provided, he stated, an opportunity to reflect on the hopes and expectations for peace and a better future for all Colombians. The member parties in Latin America had contributed greatly to the development of the universality of the organisation and the gathering in Bogotá would further "enrich the identity of democratic socialism".

Joaquín Almunia, Secretary General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, PSOE, reiterated the concern felt by the international community in the face of the suffering of the Colombian people. Everybody, he underlined, should work to finding real and progressive solutions to such a complex and painful problem, as it was solidarity that distinguished the social democratic search for peace.

Anselmo Sule, Co-Chair of the Committee, of the Social Democratic Radical Party, PRSD, Chile, reasserted the Committee's commitment to the Colombian people and to making globalisation into a real instrument of development, peace and progress in Latin America.

Maria Emma Mejía, Director of the Institute of Liberal Thought, PLC, Colombia, presented an introduction on the main theme from the Colombian perspective, placing the conflict in its historic context. The path forward to peace, she proposed, needed to count on the cross-party support for negotiation and dialogue, and advances had been made in this direction. She declared that international participation and cooperation could be a potential way to look for new solutions.

Hatuey de Camps, President of the Dominican Revolutionary Party, PRD, Dominican Republic, reported on some possible developments towards such international cooperation.

Horacio Serpa Uribe, former President of the PLC, emphasised that it was also necessary to open up political spaces within the democratic process and allow all forces to have a voice.

Piedad Córdoba, President of the Human Rights Committee of the Senate, PLC, who was kidnapped in June of this year by a paramilitary group, shared her experiences and warned of the rigours of war against the most vulnerable sections of society.

As a result of the detailed discussions and contributions, the Committee adopted a resolution on peace in Colombia which addressed the urgent concerns for the country, expressing SICLAC's solidarity to the people of Colombia with their democratic struggle in search of reconciliation. 'Without peace no country has a future. Without peace the objectives of democracy and social justice demanded by the peoples of the world cannot be achieved', it stated.

The resolution also applauded the proposal, initiated by different sectors of the community, to work towards emphasising the human aspect of the armed conflict as part of the peace process. The Committee shared the principle that the people of Colombia had a sovereign right, without any kind of foreign intervention "to organise and direct the process which will lead to understanding and agreement". SICLAC agreed to propose to the SI XXI Congress that a Permanent Commission of the International be established to follow developments in Colombia and to further cooperation in pursuit of a negotiated settlement.

Fernando Martín, Vice-President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party, PIP, in the absence of Rubén Berríos, PIP President and Co-Chair of the Committee, outlined the situation in Puerto Rico. Berríos, he reported, was continuing the campaign of civil disobedience on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques against the bombing and military training of the US Navy there. The Committee adopted a resolution expressing its solidarity and support for 'his action and leadership in this cause, which is that of all the people of Puerto Rico'. The resolution reiterated its call for the immediate cessation of all military manoeuvres there.

The Committee also expressed its alarm and deep concern for the situation of the rule of law in Peru following a report by former President, Alan García. It lent its full support to the Aprista Party, a member of the International, in its struggle for the defence of democracy and social justice, and it denounced the systematic persecution of political leaders, the harassment of opposition and presidential candidates and the coercion of the independent mass media. SICLAC called on the regime of Alberto Fujimori to respect the popular will, through the holding of free elections, and to cease all hostile acts towards the democratic opposition and the enforcement of unconstitutional laws intended to prevent García from exercising his political and civil rights.

In a further declaration, the Committee repudiated the unilateral decision of the Fujimori Government to withdraw Peru from the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Turning to Mexico, the Committee issued a declaration which recognised that the armed conflict in the region of Chiapas had been through many phases and the country was now at a point where re-establishing a climate of dialogue and negotiation in the search for just solutions was indispensable. The Committee urged all parties to fulfil the previous agreements and demanded full respect of human rights in the region, calling for an exhaustive investigation into the violation of human rights there.

Following a presentation by Timoteo Zambrano, Secretary General of Democratic Action, AD, the Committee issued a declaration on Venezuela which welcomed the fact that tensions between the Congress of the Republic of Venezuela, the Supreme Court of Justice and the National Constitutional Assembly had been resolved respecting the rule of law. Reaffirming the need for political consensus and agreement to maintain stability and the strengthening of democracy, SICLAC called on the political institutions in Venezuela to avoid such crises of governability in the future, which threaten freedom there and put the democratic system in danger.


DECLARATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS  

Resolution on peace in Colombia

Resolution on Puerto Rico

Declaration on Peru

Declaration on Mexico

Declaration on Venezuela

Declaration on the withdrawal of Peru form the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

List of participants  


RESOLUTION ON PEACE IN COLOMBIA

Original: Spanish

The Socialist International Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, SICLAC, meeting in Bogotá on 4-5 October 1999,

Expresses its solidarity with the Colombian people in their democratic struggle in search of reconciliation, and reiterates its interest in contributing as respectfully and constructively as possible to the success of the negotiation process between the national government and the insurgent groups.

Without peace no country has a future. Without peace the objectives of democracy and social justice demanded by the peoples of the world cannot be achieved. Only by creating the conditions for citizens' participation and for a social consensus can inequalities be fought and a solution be found to the serious difficulties faced by millions of people in Latin America and the Caribbean, many of them in Colombia.

We therefore urge all Colombian men and women, particularly the Liberals and those who share our ideals and the responsibilities of social democracy, not to waver in their support for a political solution to the internal armed conflict, and for the authorities and the guerrilla movement to explore and exhaust all the alternatives there may exist to reach fair and lasting reconciliation.

SICLAC welcomes the proposal made by various sectors of Colombian society - political parties, entrepreneurs, churches, workers, peasants, non-governmental organisations - for the human aspect of the armed conflict to be highlighted while the search for peace is under way.

We also share the principle that the men and women of Colombia have a sovereign right, without any kind of foreign intervention or inappropriate interference but with altruistic assistance given in solidarity by all democratic nations of the world, to organise and direct the process which will lead to understanding and agreement.

The Committee, meeting in Bogotá, will propose to the XXI Congress of the Socialist International in Paris next month that a Standing Committee is established responsible for following events in Colombia, which will keep all member parties informed of developments in the peace process in that country and ensure the Socialist International's expressed willingness to support and cooperate in any possible way to achieving a negotiated settlement to the armed confrontation.


RESOLUTION ON PUERTO RICO

Original: Spanish

The Socialist International Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, SICLAC, meeting in Bogotá on 4-5 October 1999,

Considering that:

Within the context of the regime of political subordination in Puerto Rico, the government of the United States unilaterally retains and exercises military authority in this Caribbean country;

The intense bombing exercises carried out by the US Navy on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques and its occupation of two thirds of the territory of this island is detrimental to the peace, health and development of its almost ten thousand inhabitants, in violation of their human rights;

The government of Puerto Rico, with the support of all the political parties and of the highest hierarchy of the Church and the trade unions, has formally asked the President of the United States to immediately and permanently cease all military manoeuvres in Vieques and return the land currently occupied by the Navy to the people of Puerto Rico;

In its report on Puerto Rico of 10 July 1999, the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation, urged the Government of the United States to cease its military manoeuvres and its occupation of the island of Vieques;

As from 8 May 1999, Senator Rubén Berríos Martínez, President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party and Co-Chair of the SI Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, entered the restricted areas of the Navy's shooting range in Vieques, set up camp and has remained there uninterruptedly in an act of civil disobedience and peaceful resistance which has become a symbol of the Puerto Rican people's resolve and has succeeded in preventing the resumption of bombing;

The President of the United States will be taking a final decision on the demands made by the people of Puerto Rico in the next few days, which, if rejected, will lead to the arrest and imprisonment of Senator Berríos Martínez and of those who take part in acts of civil disobedience, including the presidents of the other political parties, as well as religious and union leaders who have already publicly stated their position.

Agrees:

To urge the President of the United States to respect the will of the Puerto Rican people - who have so far been unable to fully exercise their rights to free determination and independence -and to order the immediate cessation of all military manoeuvres and the return of the land occupied by the Navy in Vieques to the Puerto Rican people.

To express its solidarity and support for Senator Rubén Berríos Martínez for his action and leadership in this cause, which is that of all the people of Puerto Rico.


DECLARATION ON PERU

Original: Spanish

The Socialist International Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, SICLAC, meeting in Bogotá on 4-5 October 1999,

Expresses its alarm and deepest concern at the current situation with regard to the rule of law in Peru, welcomes and lends its active support to the struggle of the Peruvian Aprista Party to defend democracy and social justice and denounces the systematic persecution of political leaders, the harassing of opponents and presidential candidates and the coercion of the media opposed to the regime.

In the light of these events which flagrantly violate the law and attempt to deny the right to vote and to be elected of the former President of Peru, Alan García, who has been nominated to head the parliamentary list of the APRA, and which are expected to be extended to other candidates for Congress and the Presidency,

Agrees,

To demand that Alberto Fujimori's regime duly respect the will of the people by organising free elections and cease its acts of hostility towards sectors of the democratic opposition and its enforcement of unconstitutional laws intended to prevent Alan García from exercising his political and civil rights.


DECLARATION ON MEXICO

Original: Spanish

The Socialist International Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, SICLAC, meeting in Bogotá on 4-5 October 1999,

Recognising:

That in the Latin American context, the progress of development and social justice requires an environment of constructive peace and the eradication of all forms of violence;

That the armed conflict in a region of the State of Chiapas, which has been taking place since 1994 has passed through different stages and has reached a point at which it is essential to re-establish a climate of dialogue and negotiation to find just solutions which will satisfy all sides.

Agrees,

To urge those in conflict to resume negotiations and re-establish a dialogue which will allow peace to be achieved with justice and dignity in the region;

To recommend that the agreements signed at previous stages of negotiation by those concerned, be complied with;

To demand that all vestiges of human rights violations be eradicated and to thoroughly investigate any reports of such violations;

To recommend that the rule of law be fully respected in order to prevent the operation or resurgence of paramilitary groups which may provoke conflict in the region.

The Mexican political parties belonging to SICLAC undertake to do all they can to create the conditions for the resumption of dialogue and negotiations aimed at finding peaceful solutions to the conflict in Chiapas which will be acceptable to those involved.


DECLARATION ON VENEZUELA

Original: Spanish


The Socialist International Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, SICLAC, meeting in Bogotá on 4-5 October 1999,

Acknowledges with satisfaction that the tension created between the Congress of the Republic of Venezuela, the Supreme Court of Justice and the National Constituent Assembly, has been resolved with respect for the rule of law.

Recognises the use of consensus and political accord as rational ways of conducting political activity aimed at achieving the stability and the strengthening of democracy, to which the Venezuelan Episcopate has decidedly contributed.

Reaffirms the need to apply democratic concepts and principles to strengthen and legitimise the regions, townships and municipalities, which are the fundamental tools needed to implement viable social projects.

Rejects any attempt to replace the rule of law in Venezuela and the country's democratic institutions with a militaristic state which intends to enshrine the military vote, which would be a fatal development for Venezuela.

Calls upon Venezuela's political institutions to avoid future governability crises which threaten freedom and endanger the country's democratic system.


DECLARATION ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF PERU FROM THE JURISDICTION OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Original: Spanish


The Socialist International Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean, SICLAC, meeting in Bogotá on 4-5 October 1999,

Considering that:

The exercise of democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean is based on the respect of freedoms and the rule of law and on compliance with international treaties;

The stability of the judicial system in our continent is supported by the American Convention on Human Rights and the supranational jurisdiction of the Commission and of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights of the Organisation of American States, OAS;

The withdrawal of Peru from the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court in San José de Costa Rica is unacceptable, because it violates this very Convention and leaves the citizens of Peru without legal protection.

Resolves,

To repudiate the unilateral decision taken by the government of Alberto Fujimori to withdraw Peru from the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, as this action represents a serious step backwards in ensuring respect for the human rights of the Peruvian people.


LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Secretary General of the Socialist International

Luis Ayala


Co-Chair of the Committee
Anselmo Sule
(Chile, PRSD)


ARGENTINA
Popular Socialist Party, PSP

María del Carmen Viñas


ARGENTINA
Radical Civic Union, UCR

Leopoldo Moreau
Raúl Alconada
Luis Alberto Cáceres


BOLIVIA
Revolutionary Left Movement, MIR-New Majority

Oscar Eid Franco
Guido Riberos
Amelia Montero


BRAZIL
Democratic Labour Party, PDT

Luiz A. Salomão
Ligia Doutel D'Andrade


CHILE
Radical Social Democratic Party, PRSD

Luis Urra


CHILE
Socialist Party, PS

Ricardo Solari
Aníbal Palma


COLOMBIA
Liberal Party of Colombia, PLC

Luis Guillermo Velez Trujillo
Horacio Serpa Uribe
María Teresa Uribe Bent
Viviane Morales de Hoyos
Piedad Córdoba
Juan Manuel López Cabrales
Germán Vargas Lleras
Rafael Guzman Navarro
María Emma Mejía Velez
Eduardo Verano de la Rosa
José Renán Trujillo
Jaime Castro Castro


COLOMBIA
M-19 Democratic Alliance

Carlos Franco


COSTA RICA
National Liberation Party, PLN

Kyra de la Rosa Alvarado


DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Dominican Revolutionary Party, PRD

Hatuey de Camps
Rafael Subervi Bonilla
Fausto Liz
Peggy Cabral de Peña Gómez
Miguelina Ortiz de Subervi
José Martínez Castillo
Luz del Alba Thevenin
Yolanda Díaz
Tomasina Pascual


ECUADOR
Democratic Left Party, PID
Rodrigo Borja
Andrés Vallejo
Bernardo Moscoso
Magdalena Chauvet


FRANCE
Socialist Party, PS

Jean Crusol


HAITI
Party of the National Congress of Democratic Movements, KONAKOM

Jessie Benoit


HAITI
Organisation of the People in Struggle, OPL

Irvelt Chery


ITALY
Democrats of the Left, DS

Donato Di Santo


MEXICO
Party of Democratic Revolution, PRD

Jesús Zambrano
Juan José García


MEXICO
Institutional Revolutionary Party, PRI

Beatriz Paredes Rangel
Humberto Mayans Canabal
Laura Pavón Jaramillo
Juan Pedro Davalos


NICARAGUA
Sandinista National Liberation Front, FSLN

Margarita Zapata


PANAMA
Democratic Revolutionary Party, PRD

Martín Torrijos
Jorge Eduardo Ritter


PERU
Peruvian Aprista Party, PAP

Alan García
Jorge del Castillo
César Zumaeta
Judith de la Mata
Edmundo de la Vega
Agustín Mantilla
Mauricio Mulder
Hugo Otero
PERU (Cont'd)
Wilbert Bendezu
Gerardo Morris


PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rican Independence Party, PIP

Fernando Martín García
Manuel Rodríguez Orellana


SPAIN
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, PSOE

Joaquín Almunia
Ramón Jáuregui
Trinidad Jiménez


VENEZUELA
Democratic Action, AD

Timoteo Zambrano
Luis Ochoa


Socialist International Women, SIW
Sofía Leonor Sánchez Baret


International Union of Socialist Youth, IUSY
Fabio Villa


International Falcon Movement/ Socialist Educational International, IFM/SEI
Jairo Carrillo Sánchez



SI Secretariat
Latifa Perry
Gabriela Shepherd



Guests:

URUGUAY
New Space Party

Antonio Gallicchio


URUGUAY
Socialist Party of Uruguay

Hugo Rodríguez Filippini

 



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