Written question asked by Clare Short (Labour) on Thursday, 27 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 December 2003. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Monday, 8 December 2003 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the proposed new emergency powers before the Colombian parliament meet the pledges given at the consultative group meeting in London in July 2003.

Answer: Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the proposed new emergency powers before the Colombian parliament meet the pledges given at the consultative group meeting in London in July 2003. [141511] Mr. Rammell: The Colombian Government did not make any pledges at the London Meeting on International Support on Colombia about specific legislation, but they did pledge to implement recommendations made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR). There are legitimate concerns about the proposal to grant judicial police powers to the Colombian armed forces in the proposed Constitutional Reform Bill 223 of 2003. In July the EU made a demarche to the Colombian Government about this, reiterating the concerns of UNHCHR in Bogota, in particular where proposed articles were incompatible with Colombia's human rights and international humanitarian obligations. We shall continue to urge the Colombian Government to adopt the practice of adjusting all anti-terrorist legislation in line with Colombia's international obligations.

Secondary information