In a statement, a group of senators from the Colombian Congress warned of the seriousness of the resumption of US military operations in Colombian territory, against what is stipulated in the Colombian Constitution and a legal process that is underway.
The document addressed to the Council of State was signed by Senators Iván Cepeda, Antonio Sanguino, Jorge Enrique Robledo, Alberto Castilla, Alexander López and Wilson Arias.
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Senadores alertan a Consejo de Estado que Congreso no autorizó presencia militar de EEUU en Colombia, https://t.co/t9mFNRq7r3
— Iván Cepeda Castro (@IvanCepedaCast) August 28, 2020
In the text, the congressmen wrote that there is a judicial order that prohibits the military activity of US troops in Colombian territory. Furthermore, according to the Constitution, the transit of foreign troops on Colombian soil needs the approval of the Senate.
“The suspension order governs until the Senate of the Republic, not the president of that body, even less a group of congressmen, decides whether or not to assume its functional duty, for which a formal act of the public body must mediate, through a session of the Senate Plenary, in which the plenary session of the Senate discusses and votes on the matter, ” part of the document reads.
“Any non-recognition of the current decision to freeze the activity of US troops in Colombia and go against the decision of the Senate plenary is in violation of the Constitution and can generate actions due to prevarication”, indicated Senator Iván Cepeda.
For his part, the Minister of Defense, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, has alleged that the Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) of the United States government can operate in Colombia, since it is an advisory force and not the transit of troops through the national territory, something that the group of senators rejects.
Featured image: File image.
Translation: OT/JRE/EF
