The Unit’s Director said these people, being recognized as victims in the Single Victims Registry, already meet a requirement to run in these elections.

During a results assessment in terms of assistance, aid and reparation to victims within the framework of the Peace with Legality Policy, at the Casa de Nariño, the Unit for the Victims Director, Ramon Rodriguez, addressed the 2021’s 1207 Decree, which regulates the election to the Chamber of Representatives for the 16 Transitory Peace Constituencies for the periods 2022-2026 and 2026-2030.

“This decree establishes that through a technological platform, the Unit for the Victims has to guarantee, both virtually and in person, the certification that the person applying in in the Single Victims Registry (RUV in its Spanish acronym). We have a registry of the more than 9,177,000 conflict victims,” said the Director.

Rodriguez also said applications are being received and verified in the Single Victims Registry through the technological platform: “We can have full certainty and security that all the verification processes and corresponding data crossings with the National Registry of Civil Status have been done, so certifications can be issued, and these victims can run in the elections as candidates for the 16 Special Transitory Peace Constituencies.”

Faced with the question of whether ex-military members can aspire to the 16 Peace Seats, the Director answered that within the Single Victims Registry there are 388,000 former members of the Military Forces and Police conflict victims. Of these, the highest percentage, which is around 280,000, belong to the National Army and are recognized in the RUV.

“These former members of the Military and Police Forces who are recognized as victims in the RUV already meet a requirement to be able to run, and that is they are included in the Single Victims Registry. It is necessary to see who will nominate them in accordance with what is established in the decree and, in view of that, the Unit for the Victims will issue the corresponding certification,” said Ramon Rodriguez.

On the same subject, Rodriguez added that according to October 5th, 2021’s 1207 Decree, “conditions within the regulations that deal with residence issues have to be checked. Additionally, the fact they were born in that place or if they have a return process already established by the Victims Unit has to be verified.”

Ex-combatants cannot apply

For his part, Emilio Archila, Presidential Stabilization and Consolidation Advisor, referred to the issue of who could be the candidates for the Special Transitory Peace Constituencies: “Who can nominate them? They can be appointed by victims’ organizations, social organizations or farmers' organizations. There is a state’s entity verifying that whoever nominates is indeed part of an organization.”

The Presidential Advisor also said there are special courts. “There will be the possibility of presenting complaints and resolve them immediately in those regions. The High Peace Commissioner’s Office has the data of who belongs in the ex-combatants’ groups, so these people will not be able to participate. Sanctions would be quite severe because, if someone breaches these obligations, the empty seat applies, which not only means the person can’t be in Congress, but it also means whoever nominated them loses that representation too."

(End/DFM/COG/RAM)