US-Colombia Military Base Deal Unconstitutional: Judge

[Wilms]

US-Colombia Military Base Deal Unconstitutional: Judge

Friday, 23 July 2010 14:35 Cameron Sumpter

Judge Jorge Ivan Palacio, who was delegated by the nation's Constitutional Court to study the constitutionality of an agreement which allows U.S. presence at seven Colombian military bases, released a report stating that the controversial pact is unconstitutional and needs to be reviewed, reported El Espectador on Friday.

In the report, Palacio suggests that the Colombian Congress be given a period of twelve months to process a new bilateral agreement with the U.S. military.

The report has been given to the nine judges of Colombia's Constitutional Court, who have until August 17 to make a ruling.

In early July, the U.S. Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen said that his nation's use of seven Colombian military bases does not affect other countries in the region, and that the U.S.'s military presence is crucial in the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism.

snip

The deal has caused tension between the Colombian government and several leaders of other Latin American nations, including Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/10975-colombian-judge-claims-us-bases-unconstitutional.html

[EFerrari]

1. God, I hope he has security. nt

[naaman fletcher]

2. Terrible reporting.

It leaves out the critical issue of what the judge's reasoning was. That leasing out bases in and of itself is unconstitutional would be vastly different than if it was just unconstitutional for some process reason. It would have been nice if the reporter told us.

[Wilms]

3. And...?

[naaman fletcher]

4. and what?

[Judi Lynn]

5. This is wonderful. Truly, as EFerrari said, he MUST have security, and a LOT of security.

His life is clearly in danger in a country where a political comedian, Jaime Garzon, was killed by paras as a favor to some military officers, as testified later.

He is in DEEP danger now probably from several sources.

Thank you, what a stunning move. May he survive it.

[Green_Lantern]

6. this isn't a CIA spy novel and he'll be fine..

As long as he doesn't get on the bad side of drug lords or FARC.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Will take your thoughtful, informed comments under advisement.

Colombian judges face threats and murder .
Friday, 23 April 2010 14:38 Cameron Sumpter

Colombia's Supreme Judicial Council warns of threats to the country's judiciary, with three judges assassinated in the last two years, and 600 receiving threats over the last four years, reports Semana.

Judge Diego Fernando Escobar was gunned down Thursday outside his home in Medellin.

"In the last two years have been killed three judges and a court official and an attempt was made against a Cali judge ... But the worst for us is that there have been constant threats for the past four years, rising to 600" said Judge Hernando Torres of the Supreme Judicial Council.

President Uribe condemned the assassination and offered a reward of COP100 million for information about those who masterminded the crime.

“This is an wake-up call to the national government to protect the justice system to guarantee the civil liberties of the population,” said Judge Hernando Torres, chairman of the Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council.

There had been "threats to their family and property, personal threats, threats to bring processes of various kinds, and threats to resources that they give to illegal groups,” according to Torres.

Among those threatened were judges of the Supreme Court, who have been responsible for uncovering links between politicians and paramilitaries, according to Torres.

The Supreme Court judges have also been the victims of illegal wiretapping by Colombia's security agency (DAS).

President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Francisco Escobar, said that budget problems made it difficult for judges to protect themselves.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/9329-colombian-judges-face-threats-and-murder.html

~~~~~
Judge leaves Colombia after receiving death threats
13:46, June 23, 2010

A Colombian judge, who handed down a 30-year sentence to a retired Army colonel for involvement in the disappearance of civilians in 1985, had fled the country after receiving death threats, an attorney of the judge said on Tuesday.

Judge Maria Jara Gutierrez had left Colombia with her son after receiving threats from alleged "illegal armed groups," Jorge Molano told local Caracol Radio Station.

Two weeks ago, the judge sentenced retired colonel Luis Plazas Vega to 30 years in prison for his role in the disappearance of 11 people during a military operation against the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in the taking of the Palace of Justice in Bogota 24 years ago. Plazas led the operation, in which 55 people were killed, including 11 judges.

The court found colonel Plazas guilty of retention and disappearance of ten civilians and one member of the FARC.

Gutierrez left Colombia after the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) gave her shelter as a precautionary measure and as a response to her repeated complaints of threats after receiving criticism from President Alvaro Uribe.

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/7036876.html

~~~~~
Judge gunned down in Colombia
Irish Sun
Friday 23rd April, 2010
(IANS)

A criminal court judge was killed Thursday in the northwestern Colombian city of Medellin while waiting for a taxi, police said.

The suspected shooter of Judge Diego Fernando Escobar Munera fled the scene on a city bus, but was captured minutes later by police, Col. Adan Leon said.

Escobar, 45, spent 19 years in the judiciary and authorities are investigating the possibility that his murder was connected with one of the numerous cases he handled.

Another criminal court judge was gunned down last month outside his Bogota home by gunmen travelling on a motorcycle.

President Alvaro Uribe issued a statement denouncing the murder of Escobar and vowing not to permit a resurgence of the kind of of violence against judges that was common in Colombia in the 1980s and '90s.

More:
http://story.irishsun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/88176adfdf246af5/id/626379/cs/1

ETC.

[Green_Lantern]

9. I didn't say judges aren't threatened...

Just not based on this decision.

[rabs]

7. This article refers to the "ponencia" from July 24

"Ponencia" in Colombian legalese = opinion.

So what happened yesterday was that the full court accepted Palacio's negative opinion on the constitutionality of the agreement. (negative to the uribista/santistas, positive to all Colombians opposed to U.S. military boots on Colombian soil, and practically the rest of South America, especially Venezuela.)

Result, use of bases by the U.S. is unconstitutional.

There goes the nearly $40 million the Pentagon has poured into lengthening the runways at Palanquero air base.

It is/was being done to accomodate the huge USAF cargo/troop carrier planes that could reach all the way to the Southern Cone. And to West Africa.