Colombia’s military justice reform unconstitutional: Congressman

Colombian congressmen on Tuesday filed a lawsuit claiming that the controversial military justice reform is unconstitutional.

“Our suit demonstrates that the [military’s] jurisdiction was augmented illegally, that is has large flaws and that this is sufficient for the court to declare it unconstitutional,” Congressman Ivan Cepeda told Colombia Reports. 

The military justice reform, approved by congress in December and subject to much criticism from human rights groups and the UN, gives military tribunals greater jurisdiction in the prosecution of human rights crimes committed by soldiers.

A coalition of NGOs, activists, lawyers, and five congressmen, including the outspoken human rights watchdog Ivan Cepeda, filed suit before Colombia’s constitutional court Tuesday morning.

In December, Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the military justice reform calling it “a setback for human rights.” According to HRW’s Latin America director, “the window being opened to impunity are enormous. 

MORE: HRW condemns Colombia military justice reform

MORE: Colombian constitutional reform ‘undermines justice’: UN

Colombia has a dark history of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations committed by the military. Colombian courts have been slow to prosecute. Many of the crimes, including the thousands of civilians killed

BACKGROUND: False positives

  • Interview with Congressman Ivan Cepeda

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