Pubdate: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 Source: St. Petersburg Times (FL) Copyright: 2001 St. Petersburg Times Contact: http://www.sptimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419 COLOMBIAN MILITARY'S POWER EXPANDED BOGOTA, Colombia -- Brushing aside human rights concerns, President Andres Pastrana signed "war legislation" granting Colombia's U.S.-backed military expanded powers to battle insurgents, his office said Thursday. U.N. rights monitors, human rights groups and some members of the U.S. Congress have criticized the measure, fearing it will lead to abuses in Colombia's 37-year war. The law, which Pastrana signed without fanfare on Monday, is expected to be challenged by its opponents in the nation's Constitutional Court and could affect deliberations on future U.S. military aid. One of the law's most criticized articles allows the president to set up martial law zones called "theaters of operations," in which local civilian officials would be subordinate to regional police and military commanders. The law also allows soldiers to detain suspects longer before handing them over to a judge. Amnesty International, in a statement from New York, said: "There is serious concern that these provisions could facilitate torture or other forms of human rights violations of those captured during counterinsurgency operations." The law also shortens the time allowed for completing investigations into alleged human rights abuses by security force members and requires civilian prosecutors to report to the military on their investigations into terrorism and war crimes including torture. A leading Colombian human rights activist said the measure would militarize the country. "There will be arrests without warrants, interrogations of civilians on military bases and impunity for soldiers and police who have violated human rights," predicted Gustavo Gallon, director of the Colombian Jurists' Commission. Pastrana has not spoken publicly on his decision to sign the National Defense and Security Law, which Colombia's congress approved in June. But one of the law's authors said Colombia needed tougher legislation given the nation's serious crisis. "The Colombian people are cornered by violence," Sen. German Vargas said. "We need instruments to defend ourselves." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D