Debate About the Legitimacy of an Armed Conflict within Colombian Government

According to eltiempo.com, current President Juan Manuel Santos and Álvaro Uribe Vélez disagree about the government recognizing an armed conflict with paramilitary groups. Santos support for this part of the law of victims soon to be passed comes from the desire to avoid grouping victims of common crimes with victims of paramilitary attacks. Uribe expressed his disagreement through tweets and interviews and has stated that in his administration he was able to make reparations to the victims and combat paramilitary groups without recognizing an armed conflict. For Uribe, recognizing the armed conflict between the government and paramilitary groups would be legitimizing them as a political entity. However, proponents of this recognition have stated that in the judicial sector, it has already been recognized as an armed conflict, and that it is necessary to help the affected victims. (JR)Read Article