U.S. ambassador to Colombia William Brownfield announced that his government will not re-examine its extradition treaty with the Andean nation, despite concerns that the agreement undermines the Colombian justice system.
Brownfield said that his government will assess access mechanisms, teleconferences and communications, to improve the participation of extradited former paramilitary bosses in Colombia’s Justice and Peace process.
The ambassador announced last week that he would ask his government to adjust the U.S-Colombia extradition treaty, in order to avoid a repeat of the Colombian Supreme Court’s decision to block the extradition of “Don Mario.”
The court is concerned that extraditing criminals to the U.S. on drug trafficking charges hinders Colombian justice and does not allow for reparation of victims.
Extradited paramilitaries themselves have complained that their extradition has stopped them from adequately participating in the reparation process.
Brownfield said last week that the U.S government respects the importance of Colombia’s ongoing Justice and Peace process, adding that “we will make some adjustments to our legal system to ensure that the Colombian justice system has access to the extradition process so we can continue to collaborate in the process of justice and peace.”
