Pubdate: Fri, 17 Aug 2001
Source: St. Petersburg Times (FL)
Copyright: 2001 St. Petersburg Times
Contact:  http://www.sptimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419

COLOMBIAN MILITARY'S POWER EXPANDED

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Brushing aside human rights concerns, President Andres 
Pastrana signed "war legislation" granting Colombia's U.S.-backed military 
expanded powers to battle insurgents, his office said Thursday.

U.N. rights monitors, human rights groups and some members of the U.S. 
Congress have criticized the measure, fearing it will lead to abuses in 
Colombia's 37-year war.

The law, which Pastrana signed without fanfare on Monday, is expected to be 
challenged by its opponents in the nation's Constitutional Court and could 
affect deliberations on future U.S. military aid.

One of the law's most criticized articles allows the president to set up 
martial law zones called "theaters of operations," in which local civilian 
officials would be subordinate to regional police and military commanders.

The law also allows soldiers to detain suspects longer before handing them 
over to a judge.

Amnesty International, in a statement from New York, said: "There is 
serious concern that these provisions could facilitate torture or other 
forms of human rights violations of those captured during counterinsurgency 
operations."

The law also shortens the time allowed for completing investigations into 
alleged human rights abuses by security force members and requires civilian 
prosecutors to report to the military on their investigations into 
terrorism and war crimes including torture.

A leading Colombian human rights activist said the measure would militarize 
the country.

"There will be arrests without warrants, interrogations of civilians on 
military bases and impunity for soldiers and police who have violated human 
rights," predicted Gustavo Gallon, director of the Colombian Jurists' 
Commission.

Pastrana has not spoken publicly on his decision to sign the National 
Defense and Security Law, which Colombia's congress approved in June.

But one of the law's authors said Colombia needed tougher legislation given 
the nation's serious crisis. "The Colombian people are cornered by 
violence," Sen. German Vargas said. "We need instruments to defend ourselves."
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