The Attorney-General, Dr. Eduardo Montealegre Lynett has offered apologies to the former deputy of the Valle del Cauca, Sigifredo López Tobón, and has announced, at the time, an investigation of the facts that led to loss his liberty in order to prosecute those who have impeded justice.
In the course of the act of public apologies carried out in the Auditorium of the Attorney General headquarters, Dr. Montealegre has affirmed that it was his responsibility to apologize to former Deputy López Tobón, his wife, sons and other relatives, who after overcoming the kidnapping were again victimized: ” I offer apologies so that you do not forget these facts are unrepeatable,” has added.
The senior official has pointed out that these apologies are not imposed from outside, it is “a decision by the entity” that becomes an example for the society and may lead to other types of forgiveness such as “capable of forgiving the unforgivable”.
During his speech, Dr. Montealegre Lynett has stressed that the best tool for building peace is to administer justice to overcome individual and collective damages caused by the devastating armed conflict that has lived the country, whose civil society and governmental entities should unite to achieve that end.
He has advised that Colombian society must mobilize their moral resources because “the forgiveness is essential to end this conflict”, to heal the wounds, to ensure that the trauma will not be repeated and to “not look back with bitterness”.
Also, he has affirmed that “if we seek peace seriously”, it has to forgive with seriousness, even in cases of institutional actions so are set to the law.
However, he has asserted that this forgiveness is to apologize “as symbolic reparation is necessary, but not sufficient for restorative justice.”
He has reiterated that Thursday ceremony should be interpreted as an act of greatness and not as a token of power and authority.
Finally, the Attorney General has said that apologies offered to López Tobón are an end result, not only as provided in international standards, but also stem from “a profound conviction” to repair the damage caused.