Colombia’s opposition suing defense minister over illegal army recruitment
Colombia’s opposition suing defense minister over illegal army recruitment
Oct 7, 2014 posted by Joel Gillin
A member of the leftist opposition party Democratic Pole on Tuesday filed suit against Colombia’s defense minister over ongoing ilegal recruitment practices in the army, according to El Espectador newspaper.
The alleged crimes filed against Juan Carlos Pinzon by congressman Alirio Uribe include arbitrary arrest and detention, unlawful extension of imprisonment, and abuse of authority, all of which are connected to the army’s use of draft raids in recruiting soldiers.
The forced drafting of Colombians who are unable to show a paper that exempts them from military service was deemed unconstitutional in 2011, but it is widely acknowledged that the practice continues throughout the country.
MORE: Colombian army ignores court, continues to recruit soldiers in forbidden raids
The raids are carried out in crowded public spaces like public transport hubs where the chances of detaining a person who has failed to comply with his military duty or has failed to obtain an exemption paper are highest.
More:
http://colombiareports.co/opposition-suing-defense-minister-draft-raids/#prettyPhoto