Marta Lucía Ramírez, the Vice-President of the Republic of Colombia also Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed concern in a correspondence about the situation of her fellow citizens after the visit carried out by the Colombian Consular Mission in Haiti, which revealed irregularities in the detention and assistance of the 18 Colombian detainees suspected of being linked to the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

In a correspondence addressed to the Ambassador of Haiti in Colombia Jean Mary Exil, Marta Lucía Ramírez, while reiterating the desire of the Colombian Government to clarify this assassination and to punish those responsible, underlines that according to the report submitted by the honorary consul of Colombia in Haiti, Julio Santa, the Colombians, "have not received any form of legal assistance, because the Haitian authorities have not assigned public lawyers to protect the right of defense and respect for judicial guarantees at a due process," recalling "The international treaties on consular protection and human rights guarantee without delay the obligation to designate a defender once the capture has taken place, in particular article 8 of the American Convention on Human Rights."

In addition, she underlines that some compatriots, who suffered injuries at the time of their arrest, did not receive adequate medical care and did not benefit from guaranteed humanitarian conditions, stressing that it is "a violation of Article 5 of the 1963 Vienna Convention, which requires respect for the physical, mental and moral integrity of detained persons" adding "I remind your Government that it has a moral and legal obligation to protect detainees under its jurisdiction. The duty to protect persons who come under the jurisdiction of a Government cannot be ignored, whatever their legal status [...]"

Likewise, on behalf of the Colombian Government, she called for "the perpetrators of harmful behavior against Colombian detainees to be investigated and punished" recalling that "Colombia and Haiti have a common history of friendship and fraternity, which in such difficult times demand the greatest collaboration and cooperation based on respect for fundamental rights."

Finally, she informs the Ambassador of Haiti Jean Mary Exil, that the Colombian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic Daniel Cabrales, has received instructions from the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to visit Colombian detainees at least twice a week and asks for this purpose, that the Haitian Government receive the credentials of the diplomat in order to formalize its activities in Haiti.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34351-haiti-flash-all-the-arrested-colombian-ex-soldiers-were-aware-of-a-plan-to-kill-president-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34283-haiti-flash-follow-up-of-investigations-into-the-assassination-of-president-moise-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34238-haiti-flash-monitoring-of-investigations-into-the-assassination-of-president-jovenel-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34218-haiti-flash-wanted-notice-for-a-very-dangerous-colombian-mercenary.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34205-haiti-flash-statements-and-testimony-from-colombia-about-the-commando.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34199-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-names-of-the-20-members-of-the-commando-arrested-5-others-still-on-the-run.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34183-haiti-flash-the-commando-that-killed-the-president-included-26-colombians-and-2-haitian-americans-official-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html

SL/ HaitiLibre