Janus
11th March 2006, 04:16
BBC News
Around 2,000 rightwing paramilitaries in Colombia have disarmed at a ceremony marking the demobilisation of the last major unit as part of a peace process.
Its commander, known as Jorge Cuarent, is wanted by the US for trafficking drugs but is unlikely to be extradited while the peace process continues.
In all, at least 26,000 paramilitaries have disarmed in return for benefits including reduced jail sentences.
President Alvaro Uribe says this is the best way to secure peace.
However, critics say serious crimes will go unpunished and the paramilitaries could easily rearm or try to enter mainstream politics.
The disarmament signals the end of negotiations between the government and the paramilitaries, the United Self Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), but few are celebrating, the BBC's Jeremy McDermott reports.
And few Colombians believe that an end to the 42-year civil conflict has moved any closer.
The AUC was created to protect ranches from extortion and kidnapping by Marxist guerrillas but was soon taken over by drug-traffickers.
The political, economic and drugs trafficking structures of the paramilitaries remain intact, our correspondent says.
There is also evidence, he adds, of new paramilitary groups emerging and former AUC factions continuing to operate.
Warning to the left
Jorge Cuarent, whose real name is Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, made a warning at the ceremony to the country's leftist rebels who have not joined the peace process.
"We, the people of Colombia, will not forgive them if they don't take steps toward peace," he said in comments broadcast on television.
Foreign diplomats travelled 690km (420 miles) north from the capital, Bogota, to attend the ceremony in the village of La Mesa.
The peace and justice law, the legislation passed by Mr Uribe to demobilise the AUC, has yet to convict a single paramilitary of any crime, our correspondent notes.
It has been condemned by the United Nations and non-government organisations as offering virtual immunity, even for atrocities that count as crimes against humanity.
In Colombia's congressional election this weekend, candidates sponsored by paramilitary groups are expected to win control of at least 30% of the seats.
Nobody believes the paramilitaries are going to disappear, our correspondent says.
Around 2,000 rightwing paramilitaries in Colombia have disarmed at a ceremony marking the demobilisation of the last major unit as part of a peace process.
Its commander, known as Jorge Cuarent, is wanted by the US for trafficking drugs but is unlikely to be extradited while the peace process continues.
In all, at least 26,000 paramilitaries have disarmed in return for benefits including reduced jail sentences.
President Alvaro Uribe says this is the best way to secure peace.
However, critics say serious crimes will go unpunished and the paramilitaries could easily rearm or try to enter mainstream politics.
The disarmament signals the end of negotiations between the government and the paramilitaries, the United Self Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), but few are celebrating, the BBC's Jeremy McDermott reports.
And few Colombians believe that an end to the 42-year civil conflict has moved any closer.
The AUC was created to protect ranches from extortion and kidnapping by Marxist guerrillas but was soon taken over by drug-traffickers.
The political, economic and drugs trafficking structures of the paramilitaries remain intact, our correspondent says.
There is also evidence, he adds, of new paramilitary groups emerging and former AUC factions continuing to operate.
Warning to the left
Jorge Cuarent, whose real name is Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, made a warning at the ceremony to the country's leftist rebels who have not joined the peace process.
"We, the people of Colombia, will not forgive them if they don't take steps toward peace," he said in comments broadcast on television.
Foreign diplomats travelled 690km (420 miles) north from the capital, Bogota, to attend the ceremony in the village of La Mesa.
The peace and justice law, the legislation passed by Mr Uribe to demobilise the AUC, has yet to convict a single paramilitary of any crime, our correspondent notes.
It has been condemned by the United Nations and non-government organisations as offering virtual immunity, even for atrocities that count as crimes against humanity.
In Colombia's congressional election this weekend, candidates sponsored by paramilitary groups are expected to win control of at least 30% of the seats.
Nobody believes the paramilitaries are going to disappear, our correspondent says.