Colombia's Inspector General objects to the judicial immunity of U.S. soldiers in Colombia as agreed by the U.S. and Colombian government, newspaper El Espectador reported Wednesday.
In a recently agreed pact between the U.S. and Colombia, U.S. soldiers can not be tried by Colombian justice if they commit crimes on Colombian soil.
The Inspector General and representatives of the government met several times to discuss this controversial element of the deal and made adjustments to the agreement. However, IG Alejandro Ordoñez is still not fully convinced and has objections against the judicial immunity of U.S. soldiers.
Colombia's Deputy Foreign Minister Clemencia Ucros and Deputy Justice Minister Miguel Ceballos will meet with Ordoñez Wednesday to hear his concerns. The meeting will be chaired by the delegate for proactive monitoring of civil services, Maria Eugenia Carreño. "We will evaluate various experiences with crimes committed by U.S. officials in Colombia. The idea is to ensure justice in any abnormal circumstances," Carreño told the newspaper.
"We don't want there to be blond children with blue eyes with unknown fathers," the delegate said referring to problems of the past where U.S. soldiers refused to acknowledge their fatherhood.
Once the agreement is signed, the Inspector General's Office will monitor the development of U.S. military on Colombian bases, Carreño assured.
The military agreement between the United States and Colombia is expected to be signed in "the near future."
Andrewmann552
said:
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... All Colombians should feel disgraced by seeing their government grant full immunity to foreign troops in their land. |
Adriaan
said:
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... Upf, what moral judgment. Don't you think Colombians decide for themselves what they "should"? |
Fisherman
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... Colombia voluntarily gives up a chunk of sovereignty. Is little Colombia too scared to stand on its own? Poor wittle Colombia. Only twice the military spending of Venezuela, better call for big brother to come and take over. They'll protect you, all you have to do is shut up and say nothing when they rape your daughters. Weak and lame. I guess you aren't a proper country after all, just a protectorate. |
William O. Beeman
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... The United States has tried to establish extraterritoriality in every nation with which it has a military agreement. This was one of the points of objection in Iran before the Revolution of 1978-79. This doctrine is always degrading and insulting to the nation in which it is granted, and a test of U.S. influence over the governments of those nations. If the United States is granted extraterritoriality, it shows clearly that Colombia is in Washington's pocket. The other Latin American nations are right to object, and American citizens who embrace justice and equality between nations should also protest. |
