NEW LAW IN COLOMBIA WORRIES HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS

ARAUCA, Colombia -- President Andres Pastrana has signed a sweeping new
security law that human rights groups fear will open the door to torture,
arbitrary detention and increased military control in Colombia.

The measure, passed under intense pressure from hard-line elements within
the nation's Congress, gives the military broad powers to combat leftist
insurgents. It was signed Monday, although Pastrana's office announced the
action Thursday.

The law comes on top of other recent developments, including the
resignations under pressure of several top prosecutors, that have prompted
concern about an erosion in Colombia's commitment to human rights.

"This is a step backward, not forwards," said Robin Kirk, who tracks
Colombia for the New York-based Human Rights Watch. "It feeds into a
pattern of less and less focus on human rights and more and more on the old
and failed model of military solutions."

Under the law, Pastrana can give supreme authority to the military in areas
deemed to be conflict zones, superseding the powers of governors and mayors.

It weakens the ability of civilian prosecutors to investigate human rights
abuses committed by the military and imposes a two-month deadline on
completing such probes.

But the most worrisome aspect for human rights groups is the military's
newfound ability to detain and question suspects for an undetermined amount
of time under the law, which was passed by lawmakers in June.

"What we've seen in other countries is that prolonging detention leads to
torture," Kirk said.

The U.S. Congress is debating next year's aid package for the Andean
region, which includes as much as $500 million to continue Plan Colombia,
the $1.3 billion U.S.-backed scheme to reduce cocaine production in the
region by half.

"The (security) legislation would turn back the clock on the significant
progress that Colombia -- to its great credit -- has made in strengthening
human rights safeguards," states a May letter, signed by Reps. William
Delahunt, D-Mass., and Sam Farr, D-Salinas.

The law reflects growing frustration with Colombia's peace process. More
than two years of negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia, the largest rebel group, have produced few results.

Negotiations with the National Liberation Army, the second-largest
guerrilla force, collapsed last week amid accusations by the rebels that
Pastrana's government wasn't doing enough to combat paramilitary groups
that operate in the rebels' territory.

Top Colombian military officials long have argued that they need a stronger
hand to deal with the country's violent internal conflict, saying that
civilian restrictions hamper military operations.

For instance, the judiciary is corrupt and inefficient, which contributes
to a paltry conviction record in murder cases. Military officials argue
that they need quicker judicial results to prosecute those responsible for
terrorist acts.