SEMANA, June 30, 2021
(Translated by Eunice Gibson, CSN Volunteer Translator)
In a letter released early this Wednesday, ex-President Andrés Pastrana announced that he is prepared to appear before the Truth Commission to recount his first hand knowledge of events in the armed conflict.
Pastrana sent the letter to Fr. Francisco de Roux, President of the Commission. In it he states that his “voluntary appearance has no purpose other than to relate in an objective manner” accounts of violent acts and events that he knew about through his functions as Chief Executive.
He also indicates that now, when the Truth Commission “is in the final stage of making its report where it must state the whole truth and nothing but the truth”, he is fully prepared “to appear and to recount events of which he has intimate knowledge and that are related to the conflict.”
The former President also expressed regret that, “Some people are trying to use the Truth Commission to exonerate themselves or to present half-truths.”
In addition, he reflected on the value of the truth at this country’s historic moment. “The truth can’t be shrouded with political interests or slanted by ideologies of any kind. The legacy of the truth about the conflict can only be encompassed by objectivity and transparency.”
This is the complete text of the letter former President Pastrana sent to Fr. Francisco de Roux:
From my position as ex-President of Colombia and as a journalist, I have had the opportunity to have first hand knowledge of multiple and wide-ranging episodes in the history of Colombia, as related to the armed conflict.
Now, when the Commission over which you preside is in the final stage of the report that must state the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I want to express my complete willingness to appear before the Truth Commission and to recount events related to the conflict of which I have intimate knowledge.
I regret that some people are trying to use the Truth Commission to exonerate themselves or to present half-truths. My voluntary appearance has no other purpose than to recount objectively the events that I knew first hand.The truth can’t be shrouded with political interests or slanted by ideologies of any kind. The legacy of the truth about the conflict can only be encompassed by objectivity and by transparency.