Senator of Unión Patriotica party Aida Avella said the new regulation violates one issue of the Constitution specifying that Colombia is a social state of law and puts private property above human life by redefining the concept of proportionality to grant license to kill.

“With presumption of legality, the new bill also makes modifications to present legislation so that the presumption of innocence and legitimate defense exist beforehand in any circumstance involving a member of public force,” Avella stressed.

“So what now, then? Is the Constitution being enforced or is it carried over from the first article?” Ms. Avella asked in Tuesday´s session where the ruling majority passed the controversial bill.

According to Interior Minister Daniel Palacios, the new regulation that will pass to presidential approval, seeks to give “greater tools to judges so as to punish violent ones who disturb their peace.”

Senator Ivan Cepeda, from Polo Democratico Alternativo, said this law is “a compendium of provisions that legalize official, paramilitary and private criminal practices. It is a license to kill; a new fascist-style outrage of this government.”

mh/pll / mem / otf