Colombia passes controversial military justice reform bill

[Judi Lynn]

Colombia passes controversial military justice reform bill
posted by Joey O'Gorman
Jun 18, 2013

Colombia’s congress approved a controversial bill that expands the authority of military tribunals over crimes committed by members of the same military.

The military justice reform was approved in the last regular voting round of Colombia’s House of Representatives in spite of heavy criticism by the United Nations and Human Rights Watch who had condemned the reform because it would grant impunity to members of the military guilty of killing innocent civilians.

However, according to Interior Minister Fernando Carrillo, the reform means “judicial security” for the military and “no impunity.”

“I believe the military forces need confidence and judicial security. Moreover, there will be no impunity in the ‘false positives’ which was the purpose of the government with this law,” Carillo was quoted as saying by newspaper El Espectador.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-passes-military-justice-reform-bill/

[bemildred]

1. Yeah, yeah, the poor worried soldiers feel insecure about committing war crimes. nt

[ocpagu]

2. Too bad.

Colombia continues to march backwards, against the consensus of civilized countries. Military courts oftenly serve to the sole purpose of granting impunity and whitewashing abuses and covering up state terrorism. A really progressive country would be doing the opposite.