Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his counterpart in Colombia to support the Special Jurisdiction for Peace in test cases such as that of Congressman-Elect Jesus Santrich and other institutions created under the peace agreement; and if he will make a statement.

​The arrest of Seauxis Hernandez (Jesus Santrich) for allegations of drug smuggling since the signing of the Peace Agreement is a significant challenge for all those working to uphold the aims of the Havana accords. The British Ambassador in Bogota has discussed the case with the Attorney General, and the Embassy are monitoring the situation closely. In her statement on 19 April, Karen Pierce the UK Permanent Representative to the UN Security Council made clear the importance of handling it in accordance with the Peace Agreement. I understand that Mr Hernandez’s case will be reviewed by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. I welcome the joint message of commitment to due process made by President Santos and FARC Party leader Rodrigo Londono following their meeting on 11 April.