Colombian House clashes with government over victim reparation fund

The law guarantees the money in the country’s Victim Reparation Fund is used only to compensate victims of the violence and forbids the government to spend it on other things.Both opposition and a rebelling pro-Uribe coalition in Congress demanded the fund was used to repair not only the victims of violence by leftist guerrillas or paramilitary groups, but also by Colombia’s own armed forces.Interior and Justice Minister Carlos Holguín fiercely opposed the law, saying the government had already committed itself to building prisons with the money.If the law also passes through the Senate, it will be returned to the House for the final vote.