Welcome.
I will be sharing my time with my colleague, Mr. André.
You stated that the paramilitary groups were for all intents and purposes created by the government. Today, even if there is talk of demobilization, approximately 90% of these groups are reconstituting themselves. People have been targeted and are under investigation. Others — including government officials — have been incarcerated. When one sees the monster that these paramilitary groups that the government created have become, one might ask if the government has not simply lost control of the situation. Have these groups become delinquents or criminals who are trying to manipulate the judicial system from the inside? Is the bench still in cahoots with these groups?
You talk about impunity and indeed it was recently reported in the news with regard to the FARC that trips to France and even money were being offered. This is yet another case of impunity. We went to Colombia. Various situations are brought to our attention and it is now up to us to sift through all of that. People say that there has been improvement. There is talk of unionization. However, in 2007, 38 people were assassinated. We are still only in May, and when you made your report, there had already been 22 victims.
In absolute numbers, there have been improvements during certain periods, but it seems that the trend is holding fast. We have talked here about the lawyers, the judges, the bench. People are unable to act if the government refuses to make a firm commitment to clean things up. I imagine that in the absence of the rule of law, even the business people who go over there will have well-founded fears.