Court deals blow to Duque and US ambassador in favor of Colombia's war crimes tribunal
by Adriaan Alsema March 14, 2019
The constitutional court dealt a major blow to President Ivan Duque and US Ambassador Kevin Whitaker who sought to limit the powers of Colombias war crimes tribunal.
In a ruling on Wednesday, the court confirmed that the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) has the power to demand evidence in the case of extradition requests.
The court also ruled against a special chamber for members of the military who are accused or convicted for war crimes.
The ruling solidifies the power of the JEP days after Duque, with the controversial support of Whitaker, refused to sign off on the war crimes tribunals statutory law saying, among others, that these two elements of the bill were inconvenient.
Duques decision to object to elements of constitutional law plunged the peace process in crisis and congress in chaos. No president has the authority to deem constitutional law inconvenient.
More:
https://colombiareports.com/court-deals-blow-to-duque-and-us-ambassador-in-favor-of-colombias-war-crimes-tribunal/