The controversy over the death of 15 minors in aerial bombings carried out by the Military Forces against camps of illegal armed groups has led to a political crisis in the Congress of the Republic.
This Tuesday, November 18, the motion of censure against the Minister of Defense, Pedro Sánchez, was formally filed before the General Secretariat of the House of Representatives.
The initiative was led by Chamber representative Katherine Miranda, of the Green Party, who collected a total of 30 signatures, including support from the opposition (Democratic Center) and even three congressmen from the Government party, the Historic Pact.
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One of these parliamentarians, Alexandra Vásquez, expressed her deep rejection in the plenary session, ensuring that “The State cannot bomb its future. At what point was it decided that it was acceptable to take this risk?”
Miranda, one of the most critical voices in the defense of children’s rights in the armed conflict, highlighted the seriousness of the situation.
“Today I want to record in the plenary because it is not only the death of 7 adolescents, but 15 children from August to December. Children who were murdered in military operations in clashes against the FARC, of which, according to reports, 48% are indigenous children.”declared the congresswoman.
The facts that motivated the motion of censure focus on four bombings authorized by President Gustavo Petro, directed against FARC dissident camps. The national controversy has focused on the circumstances surrounding the military operations and the alleged omission of protocols in the presence of recruited minors.
Congresswoman Miranda harshly questioned Minister Pedro Sánchez for the alleged lack of preventive measures and the apparent omission of information about the presence of minors in the attacked areas, which has caused the Attorney General’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office to also open preliminary investigations to verify the legality and compliance with International Humanitarian Law.
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