Members of Colombian Congress vote to give themselves diplomatic passports

[Judi Lynn]

Members of Colombian Congress vote to give themselves diplomatic passports
Thursday, 24 November 2011 09:41
Miriam Wells

Members of the Colombian Senate and House of Representatives are to be given diplomatic passports, following presidential approval.

Members approved the bill granting themselves the privilege Wednesday after three debates that passed with few complications.

The bill's author, Senator Carlos Emiro Barriga, said it would allow members of Congress to travel to some countries without a visa and exempt them from certain taxes. He told Caracol Radio, "It will allow us to make certain procedures easier (...), airport transfers in terms of immigration, access to VIP rooms and special rooms for diplomats - facilitating the role that we carry out as parliamentarians when we are invited by other governments."

The Senate President Juan Manuel Corzo told W Radio that parliamentarians should get "special treatment." He said official Congress passports were already "very similar" to diplomatic ones, adding, "The benefit is that when they get special invitations to other countries, they will get special treatment in customs."

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/20664-colombian-congressmen-vote-to-give-themselves-diplomatic-passports.html