Colombian forces could skirt prosecution, U.N. experts warn
Colombian forces could skirt prosecution, U.N. experts warn
Stephanie Nebehay
Reuters
8:46 a.m. CDT, October 22, 2012
GENEVA (Reuters) - Colombian military and police forces suspected of committing crimes including murder and torture in the country's long war could escape prosecution under proposed constitutional reforms, U.N. human rights experts warned on Monday.
In a rare joint letter to Colombia's government and congress, made public in Geneva, they called for urgent reconsideration of the draft reforms in the interest of fighting impunity and fostering peace.
The government of President Juan Manuel Santos and Marxist guerrilla leaders agreed last week to start peace talks next month aimed at finding a negotiated end to the five-decade-old conflict.
In their letter, the human rights experts called for a reconsideration of the proposed reforms, which would expand the power of military criminal tribunals to investigate violations committed by all sides. They said such cases should remain in the hands of civilian courts.
More:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-colombia-un-rightsbre89l0qu-20121022,0,986534.story
