The police and military could benefit from any legal benefits offered toFARC guerrillas as an incentive for their disarmament, according to President Juan Manuel Santos.

Speaking at a promotion ceremony for officers of the National Police, Santos said that those officers who “for some reason have had problems with justice” could be dealt with under the Legal Framework for Peace. This law was established to support the peace talks with the FARC in Havana, and grants Congress the power to declare certain offenses (excluding genocide and crimes against humanity) as political crimes.

Santos said that he would not permit that “if the enemy is given some legal benefit, that these are not transferred to the Public Force”.

The issue of impunity for guerrilla crimes has proved politically explosive, with cross-party condemnation greeting the president’s comments that “flexibility” be applied to FARC crimes, and that narco-trafficking and benefiting from narco-trafficking be treated as political crimes.

MORE: Santos wants drug trafficking to be considered political crime

The government is also under pressure to advance the Havana peace talks by creating opportunities for FARC guerrillas to participate in politics in the future, requiring the establishment of some form of amnesty or diminished or suspended sentences.

The president has previously said that members of the armed forces who committed “errors” during the armed conflict could be given shorter sentences or have their crimes absolved if it would contribute to a lasting peace.

“It’s a question of symmetry: If soldiers and policemen, through fighting in the same conflict, have fallen foul of the criminal law, it would not be fair… for the terrorists to ask for zero days in prison, and the soldiers to face 50 or 60 years in prison.”

Former soldiers have argued for security service veterans and personnel to receive the same leniency as that applied to the guerrillas.

Jamie Ruiz, president of Arcore (Association of Retired Officials of the Security Forces) last year said: “It’s a question of symmetry: If soldiers and policemen, through fighting in the same conflict, have fallen foul of the criminal law, it would not be fair… for the terrorists to ask for zero days in prison, and the soldiers to face 50 or 60 years in prison.”

MORE: Colombia military deserves immunity if FARC not punished: Retired soldiers

Santos now claims that “the legal framework for peace is the most ideal and most effective way” to address offences by the security services, as it has been approved as being in line with the Constitution and can allow as yet unknown benefits “without incurring impunity”.

Many disagree; Gustavo Gallon of the NGO Colombian Commission of Jurists said “Instead of achieving maximum justice in adverse conditions, it allows you to reduce the duty to administer justice under the pretext of peace”.

MORE: NGOs slam Colombia’s transitional justice law at constitutional court

The president has argued that it would be impossible to provide legal redress to every offence committed during 50 years of conflict, and wants the military to share the leniency granted through a “flexible” approach. “We have to find a sensible formula to give closure so that there is no doubt as to the future legal certainty of our forces”, he added.

The president then took the opportunity to praise the way in which he claimed the Colombian military had operated according to “a constitutional mandate, in defense of a legal and constitutional order and under orders from civil authorities”. This was in contrast to many countries in the region, and Santos emphasized the “legitimacy with which our armed forces operated, and that can never be forgotten”.

RESUMEN

Santos afirma ahora que "el marco jurídico para la paz es la manera más ideal y más eficaz" para hacer frente a los delitos por los servicios de seguridad, ya que ha sido aprobado como estar en consonancia con la Constitución y puede permitir que hasta ahora desconocidos "beneficios sin incurrir en la impunidad ".

Muchos no están de acuerdo; Gustavo Gallón de la ONG Comisión Colombiana de Juristas, dijo "En lugar de lograr la justicia máximo en condiciones adversas, que le permite reducir el deber de administrar justicia bajo el pretexto de la paz".

MÁS: ONGs critican la ley de justicia transicional en Colombia en la corte constitucional

El presidente ha afirmado que sería imposible para proporcionar reparación legal a todos los delitos cometidos durante los 50 años de conflicto, y quiere a los militares a compartir la indulgencia concedida a través de un enfoque "flexible". "Tenemos que encontrar una fórmula sensata para dar cierre a fin de que no hay ninguna duda en cuanto a la futura seguridad jurídica de nuestras fuerzas", agregó.

El entonces presidente aprovechó la ocasión para elogiar la forma en la que afirmó que el ejército colombiano había operado de acuerdo con "un mandato constitucional, en defensa de un orden legal y constitucional y bajo las órdenes de las autoridades civiles". Esto fue en contraste con muchos países de la región, y Santos destacó la "legitimidad con la que nuestras fuerzas armadas operan, y que nunca se puede olvidar".

     
      FN                                    FV

    THE                           AFFIRM  THAT SHE IS GUILTY.


      FN                                     FV

      WE                              FORGET THE TASK OF TEACHER

   
      FN                                     FV

   CAMILA TO THE       SILVER IN THE BANK


     FN                                      FV

   THEY                             ARE SITTING ON THE BENCH


    FN                                    FV

THEY                               ACHIEVE THE PARTY

The government is also under pressure to advance the Havana peace talks by creating opportunities for FARC guerrillas to participate in politics in the future, requiring the establishment of some form of amnesty or diminished or suspended sentences.

The president has previously said that members of the armed forces who committed “errors” during the armed conflict could be given shorter sentences or have their crimes absolved if it would contribute to a lasting peace.

Respect the privacy of my child: Shakira

Shakira has asked the media to let her son Milan have “as normal a childhood as possible”, and to cease reporting on him now that he is no longer a baby.

Colombia’s global pop sensation gave birth to Milan in January 2013, and posed with the baby and partner Gerard Pique for photos which were posted on UNICEF’s web page to raise funds for the UN’s children’s agency.

Shakira told Spanish newspaper ABC that she has enjoyed being able to share photos of the child with “fans and with the people who have always supported us” in the first months of her son’s life, but she now wants Milan to grow up with some privacy.

She added that the child “still doesn’t realize that Gerard and I are famous”, because he doesn’t yet realize that other children’s parents aren’t also on television.

Barranquilla-born Shakira met Pique at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in 2010, and the couple live together in Barcelona where Gerard plays center-back for Barcelona FC. They are currently expecting the birth of their second son due in January.

In 1997 the singer founded the Barefoot Foundation which provides education and meals for 4000 children in displaced and vulnerable communities across Colombia. The star is the highest-selling Colombian musician of all time, having sold more than 75 million albums.

Colombia military to benefit from legal concessions made to FARC: Santos

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The police and military could benefit from any legal benefits offered toFARC guerrillas as an incentive for their disarmament, according to President Juan Manuel Santos.

Speaking at a promotion ceremony for officers of the National Police, Santos said that those officers who “for some reason have had problems with justice” could be dealt with under the Legal Framework for Peace. This law was established to support the peace talks with the FARC in Havana, and grants Congress the power to declare certain offenses (excluding genocide and crimes against humanity) as political crimes.

Santos said that he would not permit that “if the enemy is given some legal benefit, that these are not transferred to the Public Force”.

The issue of impunity for guerrilla crimes has proved politically explosive, with cross-party condemnation greeting the president’s comments that “flexibility” be applied to FARC crimes, and that narco-trafficking and benefiting from narco-trafficking be treated as political crimes.

MORE: Santos wants drug trafficking to be considered political crime

The government is also under pressure to advance the Havana peace talks by creating opportunities for FARC guerrillas to participate in politics in the future, requiring the establishment of some form of amnesty or diminished or suspended sentences.

The president has previously said that members of the armed forces who committed “errors” during the armed conflict could be given shorter sentences or have their crimes absolved if it would contribute to a lasting peace.

“It’s a question of symmetry: If soldiers and policemen, through fighting in the same conflict, have fallen foul of the criminal law, it would not be fair… for the terrorists to ask for zero days in prison, and the soldiers to face 50 or 60 years in prison.”

Former soldiers have argued for security service veterans and personnel to receive the same leniency as that applied to the guerrillas.

Jamie Ruiz, president of Arcore (Association of Retired Officials of the Security Forces) last year said: “It’s a question of symmetry: If soldiers and policemen, through fighting in the same conflict, have fallen foul of the criminal law, it would not be fair… for the terrorists to ask for zero days in prison, and the soldiers to face 50 or 60 years in prison.”

MORE: Colombia military deserves immunity if FARC not punished: Retired soldiers

Santos now claims that “the legal framework for peace is the most ideal and most effective way” to address offences by the security services, as it has been approved as being in line with the Constitution and can allow as yet unknown benefits “without incurring impunity”.

Many disagree; Gustavo Gallon of the NGO Colombian Commission of Jurists said “Instead of achieving maximum justice in adverse conditions, it allows you to reduce the duty to administer justice under the pretext of peace”.

MORE: NGOs slam Colombia’s transitional justice law at constitutional court

The president has argued that it would be impossible to provide legal redress to every offence committed during 50 years of conflict, and wants the military to share the leniency granted through a “flexible” approach. “We have to find a sensible formula to give closure so that there is no doubt as to the future legal certainty of our forces”, he added.

The president then took the opportunity to praise the way in which he claimed the Colombian military had operated according to “a constitutional mandate, in defense of a legal and constitutional order and under orders from civil authorities”. This was in contrast to many countries in the region, and Santos emphasized the “legitimacy with which our armed forces operated, and that can never be forgotten”.

Chikungunya virus infects 20,000 across Colombia 

Authorities in the north of Colombia have reported a dramatic rise in cases of the dangerous Chikungunya virus in the past days.

After an initial outbreak of the virus affecting 5,000 in September, the virus is reportedly spreading again.

MORE: Colombia on verge of Chikungunya outbreak

In the past few days, multiple cases have been reported in more than 40 municipalities in the Norte de Santander state, located on the Venezuelan border.

The sudden rise in the number of patients has driven several medical centers in the capital of the state, Cucuta, to the verge of collapse.

In the city of Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast, local reports revealed whole neighborhoods infected with the virus.

Chikunwhat? The Chikungunya virus is spread by mosquitoes and causes sudden onset fever usually lasting two to seven days, and joint pains typically lasting weeks or months, sometimes even years. No specific treatment is known, but medications can be used to reduce symptoms.

In order to combat further expansion of the virus, local authorities have announced measures such as fumigation campaigns and pest control, as well as improved waste water management in order to avoid the spread of mosquitos.

The National Association of Hospital Workers of Colombia (Anthoc) in the Santander state indicated that the preventive actions have to be taken as soon as possible to anticipate the proliferation of mosquitoes.

The president of Anthoc, Aristides Hernandez, told Caracol Radio: “we are not doing enough. The fault should be attributed to the sanitary authorities in municipalities which haven’t even fully committed themselves to fumigation, let alone other preventive measures.”

Hernandez expressed his deep concern with the situation, suggesting that according to the Anthoc data the number of Chikungunya cases has now reached 20,000 people of various age.

In Santa Marta around 350 people from the Luis Carlos Galan neighborhood were diagnosed with the virus. On Monday, the District Department of Health has ordered to isolate the neighborhood and sent doctors to carry out home visits. Clinics, health centers and hospitals in Santa Marta and Magdalena present alarming reports about the virus spread in different areas in this region.

The Health Institute of the Norte de Santander called on the residents and citizens of the state to be alert to any flu-like symptoms, and to constantly clean their water containers.

Chikungunya, meaning “to bend up” in reference to the joint pain the virus causes, was originally transmitted to humans in southern Tanzania in 1952.

The virus transmitted by mosquitoes and symptoms similar to that of dengue fever, such as fever, joint pain, muscle pain, headaches, nausea, lethargy and hives. Despite the symptoms, the World Health Organization claims that the virus is rarely ever fatal, although symptoms can last for years in some cases.

The virus is most often found in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia, while cases in the Americas have been few and far between.