Sunday, 10 March, 2002
Colombia:
Stronger Military Could Threaten Civil Liberties
Rhoda
Metcalfe
Bogota
2
Mar 2002 10:08 UTC
 
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In Colombia,
President Andres Pastrana has granted the country's army new powers to
control civilian populations in the former demilitarized zone and
regions surrounding it. While some political leaders believe a stronger
military grip is necessary in the face of the escalating guerrilla war,
many officials in the region fear the loss of civil liberties.
The new powers
granted to the military are suppose to help them regain control over
the former demilitarized zone. For three years, the country's largest
left-wing rebel group, the FARC, were allowed to control the
Switzerland-sized area while they were in peace talks with the
government.
But when talks
fell apart, the army sent more than 10,000 troops into the zone. The
soldiers are now gaining a territorial grip. But the FARC have years
of influence in the region and many ties with the people.
Under the new
decree, the army will have more control over the movement of local
residents, businesses, and transportation. They'll keep a strict
census of the local population, and army leaders will be able to
override the decision of local politicians on many issues.
The new
measures will not be applied to just the five municipalities in the
former demilitarized zone, but also 14 additional municipalities on
the edges.
The head of
Colombia's armed forces General Fernando Tapias insists the main
objective of the new measures is to protect the local people. "We
can't forget that in these communities there are still rebels living,
disguised in civilian clothes," said General Tapias. "And
they are there to continue their acts of terrorism, intimidation and
extortion. So we need greater powers to identify these people and stop
this intimidation."
But local
leaders are afraid the army will abuse their special powers, as has
happened in the past with the military.
The governor of
the province of Tolima, where one municipality will be affected, is
adamantly opposed to the new measures. "Democracy is losing
ground every day," said Governor Guillermo Jaramillo. "If
the president wants army leaders commanding from inside our city
halls, then democracy is being suspended all together."
But some national
political leaders, including Colombia's leading presidential candidate
Alvaro Uribe, are clamoring for the army to receive far more sweeping
powers, arguing that civil liberties must bow to the demands of war.
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