Human Rights group Amnesty International (AI) Monday condemned
Colombian legislation that seeks to find a legal solution for some
19,000 demobilized paramilitary fighters. AI claims 90 percent of these
fighters were never investigated.
The law, approved by Colombia’s Congress on Thursday, allows the Pprosecutor General to dismiss criminal investigations into a former member of demobilized paramilitary organization AUC if the fighter is not accused or suspected of any human rights violations, war crimes or drug related charges.
According to AI, 90 percent of these paramilitaries were never investigated for crimes against humanity and are now escaping prosecution, leaving their crimes unpunished.
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AI says Colombia is “
The law was adopted by Congress to find a solution for the legal limbo the thousands of paramilitaries were in. The Supreme Court would not allow the fighters to be considered political delinquents, which, without additional legislation, would mean all 19,000 would be prosecuted according to common criminal law.
The Colombian government said prosecution under criminal law would be breaking a promise that allowed the AUC to demobilize and would block the country’s justice system.