Colombian justice reform would 'guarantee military impunity'
Colombian justice reform would 'guarantee military impunity'
Monday, 12 December 2011 14:41
Miriam Wells
A proposal to significantly increase the use of military tribunals in Colombia would lead to impunity for human rights violations, said NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) Monday.
The plans to expand military jurisdiction over cases of abuses by security forces, which are contained in a justice system reform bill currently in its last congressional stage, would "dramatically reverse" progress made in investigating human rights violations, claimed the New York-based organization.
Jose Miguel Vivanco, the group's Americas Division director, said in an open letter to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, "This article (...) directly violates jurisprudence by Colombia's high courts and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, as well the views espoused by other relevant human rights bodies. (...) And by virtually guaranteeing impunity for human rights violations, [the justice system reform bill] could ultimately expose Colombia to investigations by the International Criminal Court."
~snip~
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has also stated, "Regarding situations that violate the human rights of civilians, military jurisdiction cannot operate under any circumstances."
More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/21015-colombian-justice-reform-would-ensure-military-impunity-ngo.html
