Colombia's Supreme Court no longer allows the extradition of paramilitary leaders who are taking part in a process to confess their crimes and compensate victims, it ruled Thursday.
The court turned down a U.S. extradition request for Luis Edgar 'Chaparro' Medina, member of the 'Bloque Resistencia Tayrona' and demobilized under the 'Justice and Peace' law that grants paramilitaries lower sentences and protection from extradition in exchange for a full cooperation with justice and reparation for their victims.
"The extradition of paramilitaries who take part in the Justice and Peace law has been a blow to the purpose of the law that sought to root peace among Colombians and proof of the collapse of the government strategy to fight violence committed by paramilitary groups," the Court ruled.
The ruling of the Supreme Court is a victory for victims of paramilitary violence who denounced that the extradition of paramilitary leaders had prevented them from confessing and repairing their victims. Top commanders of the death squads say they were extradited only because their confessions were incriminating politicians.
