Press release from the Ministry of Defense regarding the death of Mr. Edwin Legarda
Bogotá, 16 dec, 2008
The Ministry of Defense regrets the death of Mr. Edwin Legarda, the husband of indigenous leader Aida Quilcue, which took place earlier this morning in the Cauca department, and hereby informs the public that:
1. The troops of the José Hilario López Battalion of the III Division of the National Army opened fire against the vehicle driven by Mr. Legarda, but the manner in which the event took place remains to be clarified.
2. It is the Ministry's priority to determine the circumstances of the event that led to Mr. Legarda?s death and measures have already been taken to this purpose.
3. The Attorney General and the Prosecutor General were asked to send a special commission to the area in order to carry out the criminal and disciplinary investigations required. They shall receive all the support they may require.
4. The Commander of the III Division, General Justo Eliseo Peña was ordered to travel to the area along with the Inspector General of the Military, in order to lead an independent internal commission to verify the facts.
5. The Ministry has contacted the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights as to ensure the access required in order to carry out an investigation. This Office has already sent a commission to the area.
6. The Ministry of Defense shall inform the public as the investigations start to show results that may help clarify the circumstances of the event, and reiterates its commitment with transparency regarding the actions of all members of the Public Force.
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