Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak about developing the peace process in Colombia. Ireland has had a long history of political conflict, but in recent years we have been using the experience of our own peace process to assist other countries in resolving serious political problems through dialogue and inclusive negotiations. A number of years ago, I visited Colombia and met there with politicians, Red Cross personnel, trade unionists, community activists and guerillas. I gave a commitment to return to Ireland and put their efforts to create a peace process on the political agenda. I have spent the last six years pushing behind the scenes and will continue to do so.

I have also met with representatives of the Colombian Civic Coalition, Como-Soc, in order to kick-start a peace process in that country. When I visited Colombia in 2002, I gave a commitment to civic groups that I would support them. I have been pushing this agenda with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and other experts in recent times. I wish to commend José Antonio Gokerez and Ibet Garcia for their great peace work, as well as the members of Grupo Raychez.

I thank our Government for the €3.3 million in Irish aid for projects in Colombia. The way forward is through such projects, in addition to dialogue and inclusive negotiations. I also wish to pay tribute to President Chávez of Venezuela and thank him for his efforts to develop a peace process in Colombia.

However, for the past month Colombia has been in a state of turmoil due to popular unrest caused largely by the repressive nature of the current regime. In September, two big strikes took place. The first one was called by ASONAL, the trade union representing workers in the judicial sector. This strike, which only demanded an increase in wages according to law, was met with hostility that led to the government declaring a state of emergency on 9 October. This measure was designed to allow the government to dismiss workers and appoint others, and to intervene in some attributions of judicial powers. The hostility between the supreme court and the executive is well known and it has been seen as a way to advance intervention in that area. Needless to say, this measure of dealing with a strike is considered inappropriate, inadequate and extremely repressive.

The other big strike was by sugar cane cutters, which started on 15 September, to demand better wages because of the increased profits sugar cane planters are getting thanks to the biofuel business. They also sought an end to the practice of indirect hiring. The response of the government was immediately repressive, sending ESMAD riot police to clash with the workers, leaving many of them wounded. Without any solid proof, the same government accused strikers of being infiltrated by FARC guerillas. This is an extremely serious accusation in the Colombian context. Nonetheless, the government is infamous for labelling all of its political opponents as FARC undercover agents.

On 22 October, three spokespersons for the strikers were arrested — Oscar Bedoya, Omar Cedano and Juan Pablo Ochoa — but no serious evidence was produced against them. They were accused of incitement to riot, only to be released without charge two weeks later. This heavy handed approach is typical. A United Nations delegation recently denounced mass arrests and the fact that 5,600 people in Colombia are detained without trial. In addition, two advisers of opposition Senator Alexander Lopez were arrested on that date, accused of infiltrating the protest. Their names are Alberto Bejarano and José Oney Valencia. This is an attempt to criminalise the right to express solidarity with protestors. At present, the strike is on the way to being resolved in terms largely favourable to the workers. It is a shame, however, that workers must go through all of this in order for their pleas to be heard.

On 12 October, various indigenous demonstrations demanded a solution to the problem of land and a halt to the unpopular FTA negotiations with the United States. During the demonstrations many protesters were wounded and at least three were killed in the Cauca area alone. Taurino Ramos Valencia was killed on 14 October, while Elber Ibito and Jesús Antonio Nene died on 22 October. Before the march, other indigenous people were assassinated by paramilitary gangs in collusion with local authorities. They included Luz Marina Morales, Mauricio Largo and César Largo.

Violence against indigenous people has been on the rise. They have been accused, once again without proof, of being infiltrated by FARC. If any infiltration was proven, it was done by soldiers infiltrating the march on the orders of their superiors. One of them, named Daniel Chaparral, was caught by the indigenous people while infiltrating the demonstrations with home-made explosives and FARC literature.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy's time has expired.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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At the moment, the indigenous people are on the march to the capital, Bogotá. I urge the Minister and the Government to heed and support the Colombian Civic Coalition, Como-Soc, and Grupo Raychez in their efforts to develop a peace process and to push this agenda at European level and at the United Nations.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The process of moving towards peace in Colombia has seen significant developments during the course of this year, and this is an opportune moment to consider the current situation. Deputies will recall the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages in July of this year, which was welcomed by the world as a signal that the situation in Colombia is changing. This high profile development was just one step towards a more stable Colombia and there is no space for complacency in any process of this kind.

The internal conflict in Colombia has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and has been characterised by kidnappings and other gross violations of human rights. As a direct result of the conflict, it is estimated that over 3 million people have been displaced internally, second only to the numbers seen in Sudan. Serious concerns remain regarding the protection of human rights defenders and the persistence of extra-judicial killings.

The involvement of paramilitary groups in the drugs trade, and particularly cocaine, of which Colombia is the largest international source, has contributed to the persistence and extent of the conflict. This trade not only continues to be a major cause of destabilisation in Colombia, but the consequences of the traffic in cocaine can also be seen on our own streets, leading to tragic loss of life.

Ireland and other EU partners closely monitor the situation in Colombia. This includes monitoring the internal civil strife, the related issue of the production and trafficking of illegal drugs and the human rights situation. The EU has expressed its support for the Colombian Government's policies aimed at ensuring the rule of law, legality, security of persons and human rights. At the same time, the EU has also condemned systematic breaches of the most fundamental human rights, including the rights to life and liberty, perpetrated by all groups in Colombia.

Since 2005, the process of bringing an end to terrorism in Colombia has been taken forward under the justice and peace law. This law provides a legal framework for the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of illegal armed groups into Colombian society. The law was adopted through a lengthy democratic political process and strikes a difficult balance between working towards an eventual peace and delivering justice.

The process of peace negotiations between the Colombian Government and the right-wing paramilitary group, Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC, began in 2003, with more than 30,000 combatants having been demobilised on completion of the process in 2007. Negotiations between the major left-wing guerrilla group, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC and the government have not yet commenced.

Ireland has supported the ongoing development of the peace process financially through Irish Aid. In particular, multiannual support has been provided to the Organisation of American States to monitor the peace process. This funding has assisted the organisation in supporting the significant progress in demobilisations. The organisation also works closely with the Colombian National Commission for Reparation and Reconciliations, which is one of the main Colombian organisations overseeing the peace process and places particular emphasis on victims.

In the development of any peace process it is vital to ensure that the focus on victims and on human rights is maintained. Ireland has also supported the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to independently monitor the human rights situation and support the Organisation of American States in its mission. In December of this year the third session of the universal periodic review, UPR, process of the UN Human Rights Council will be held in Geneva. Colombia is one of the countries scheduled to be under review. This will provide an opportunity for Ireland and its partners in the EU to, once again, raise the issue of ongoing human rights abuses in Colombia.

The rescue of Ms Betancourt, the change in leadership of the FARC and the most recent statements made by that organisation indicate that a situation may be emerging that might lead to a new phase in which negotiations leading towards a lasting peace can begin. In order to assist in bringing about such a peace, the Government monitors the situation in Colombia on an ongoing basis through our embassy in Mexico City, which is accredited to Colombia, as well as in co-operation with our EU partners with resident diplomatic missions in that country. Ireland will continue to fully support efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Colombia through working with our EU partners and supporting the Government of Colombia in its search for a negotiated solution to the internal armed conflict, including through direct engagement.