World News
Colombia's disarmed ex-guerrillas remain in legal limbo under new administration
A group of 99 former combatants face uncertain legal protections after surrendering their weapons shortly before Colombia's presidential election.
The short version
- Ninety-nine former combatants who surrendered their weapons under former President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" initiative are living in a temporary location zone (ZUT) under state surveillance and protection.
- The newly inaugurated president, Abelardo de la Espriella, campaigned against the peace process, initiated airstrikes on criminal factions, and has not announced his intentions regarding the disarmed group or the ZUT.
- Legal experts note the ex-fighters face legal limbo due to a lack of congressional frameworks for surrenders and the potential revocation of the ZUT decree, which is set to expire on December 25.
Key facts
- In mid-June, 99 members of the Commandos of the Frontier surrendered their weapons under former President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" initiative, making them the only combatants out of an estimated 30,000 in Colombia to disarm under the plan.[The Guardian]
- The disarmament took place three days before the presidential runoff won by Abelardo de la Espriella, who promised to replace peace negotiations with military action and law enforcement.[The Guardian]
- The former combatants are housed in a government-controlled zone (ZUT) in southern Colombia, where state protection and suspended arrest warrants are established by a presidential decree set to expire on December 25.[The Guardian]
- President De la Espriella ordered the extradition of CNEB chief negotiator Geovany Andrés Rojas to the United States on drug trafficking charges, reversing a delay previously maintained by Petro.[The Guardian]
- Under Colombian law, individuals who have committed severe crimes such as kidnapping or drug trafficking are not eligible for amnesty, and Petro's legislative efforts to regulate criminal surrenders failed in Congress.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- President De la Espriella has not publicly responded to letters from the disarmed combatants or declared whether he will maintain or revoke the decree governing the ZUT before it expires.[The Guardian]