Colombia’s public prosecution and the Ministry of Justice will present a bill in November that will focus on dismantling drug trafficking organizations, reported Caracol Radio Thursday.
Should a final peace agreement be signed by the government and leftist rebel groups FARC and ELN, both groups will be able to enter demobilization and reintegration programs while counting on reduced sentences for crimes committed during the 50 years of political violence between state and guerrillas.
To allow the possible future demobilization of members of groups like the “Urabeños” and the “Rastrojos,” different legal mechanisms are necessary as both groups are exluded to take part in existing mass demobilization schemes like currently being worked out with the FARC and previously carried out with paramilitary AUC from with for example the Urabeños wee formed.
“They are no actors in the conflict,” Prosecutor General Eduardo Montealegre claimed, adding that “they will not fall under the transitional justice law” that allows leftist rebels to reintegrate while enjoying judicial benefits.
The content of the initiatives are yet to be known, but will be further explained when the bill is released in November.