Shocker of the day: Colombian court to review legality of U.S. bases accord

[rabs]

(Was watching the Chilean Telethon for earthquake victims and went over to El Tiempo to see what was up in Colombia. My jaw dropped when saw this.)


AFP photo


El Tiempo newspaper of Bogota reporting today (Saturday's edition) that the nation's Constitutional Court will review the pact and that it is NOT finalized. ("no está cerrado" which = "is not closed."

Article's main points:

-- The court on Dec. 10 agreed to review a "demanda" filed by a man named Luis Alfredo Sanchez Rojas, in which he argued that the accord was illegal because the national Congress had not approved a law permitting the pact. That law would have had to be sent to the Constitutional Court for its approval. (A "demanda" in Colombia is a formal accusation of wrongdoing before a court of law.)

-- Possibilities before the court range from leaving the pact as is, overturn the accord, or suspend its application until Congress passes the required law.

-- U.S. use of the bases was to have commenced beginning in May according to Frank O. Mora, DOD under secretary.

-- The court has asked Congress to provide it with a list of the treaties with the United States and invited former presidents Belisario Betancur, Cesar Gaviria, Ernesto Samper and Andres Pastrana to express their opinions on the new accord.

-- The court also convoked the Council of State, which said in Oct. that new elements had been inserted into the original treaty, especially the presence of U.S. troops in Colombian bases and therefore the latest accord was a new treaty that had to be approved by the Congress.

-- The Constitutional Court also has asked the Supreme Court for an opinion.

-------------------------

The Constitutional Court is the one that denied Uribe's bid for a third term just last week so would not be surprised if it went all the way and nullified the pact. Was that why Panetta visited Uribe last week for one hour? Suspect that this news is going to be a Maalox-moment for the Pentagon tomorrow.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

El Tiempo story (Spanish) Do not know if story has gone out in English.

http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/justicia/acuerdo-de-bases-militares-de-eu-en-colombia-no-esta-cerrado-_7355508-1

[Wilms]

1. .

:wow:

[rabs]

2. You will get a big chuckle from this

Arias (Uribito) is said to be Uribe's choice to replace him in the presidency.

Well, a lady pulled a george bush on him Friday at a campaign rally in Barranquilla.

http://www.elespectador.com/

go down the left side until you find LO MAS and click on "Como a George Bush, a Andrés F. Arias le lanzan un ‘zapato’"

There is a video there that is hilarious.

[EFerrari]

4. She tries to throw a second time.

:rofl:

[dipsydoodle]

5. Respect

Nice find. :rofl:

[Wilms]

6. Here's the permalink for that.

I like the way she handled the police officer, too.

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/articulo191303-george-bush-andres-f-arias-le-lanzan-un-zapato

[Judi Lynn]

7. Good for Leyla Almanza Delgado! Loved her courage!

http://www.gearfuse.com.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/118291.jpg
Arias is every bit as slimy as Uribe. Truly repulsive. What's wrong with that guy? Nothing a flying shoe or two couldn't improve.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Colombia candidate gets shoe-tossing treatment

Colombia candidate gets shoe-tossing treatment

BOGOTA (Reuters) – An aspiring Colombian presidential candidate had a sandal tossed at him on Friday in an incident reminiscent of a protest against former U.S. President George W. Bush in Iraq.

Would-be Conservative Party candidate Andres Felipe Arias was greeted with jeers and shouts of "Get out of here" and "You're corrupt" when he started speaking at an event in Barranquilla city on Colombia's Caribbean coast.

One woman tossed her shoe at him from the front row, local television reported. She missed and Arias stepped off stage with a smile to hand it back to her before blowing a kiss.

"I'd do it again under the circumstances," said Leyda Delgado. "This is the only way for the poor to get noticed because they have the all the media supporting them."

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100306/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_colombia_election_shoe

[EFerrari]

3. Do you think someone thinks they an get a better deal?

I hope the Pentagram has un ataque.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Hope it rattles Uribe, at least. Thanks for catching this. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

9. US-Colombia military accord challenged in Bogota court

US-Colombia military accord challenged in Bogota court
22 mins ago

BOGOTA (AFP) – Colombia's Constitutional Court has decided to review an agreement giving US forces access to seven Colombian military bases after a group of lawyers filed a complaint arguing it is unconstitutional, court officials said Saturday.

The lawsuit claims the October 2009 military accord is invalid because it was signed by the government of President Alvaro Uribe without prior discussion in Congress, as mandated by the constitution.

The military pact, part of a joint effort to counter drug trafficking and insurgencies, has been denounced by neighboring Venezuela as US interference in the region, raising tensions between Bogota and Caracas.

The "Jose Alvear Restrepo" group of lawyers argues the military accord should have been discussed by lawmakers since it involves stationing foreign troops on Colombian soil, a court official said.

They also accuse Uribe of ignoring the advice of the State Council -- the highest court on administrative matters, which also urged that the congress take up the agreement before it was signed.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100306/pl_afp/colombiausagreementmilitary