COLOMBIAN MILITARY'S POWER EXPANDED

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Brushing aside human rights concerns, President Andres
Pastrana signed "war legislation" granting Colombia's U.S.-backed military
expanded powers to battle insurgents, his office said Thursday.

U.N. rights monitors, human rights groups and some members of the U.S.
Congress have criticized the measure, fearing it will lead to abuses in
Colombia's 37-year war.

The law, which Pastrana signed without fanfare on Monday, is expected to be
challenged by its opponents in the nation's Constitutional Court and could
affect deliberations on future U.S. military aid.

One of the law's most criticized articles allows the president to set up
martial law zones called "theaters of operations," in which local civilian
officials would be subordinate to regional police and military commanders.

The law also allows soldiers to detain suspects longer before handing them
over to a judge.

Amnesty International, in a statement from New York, said: "There is
serious concern that these provisions could facilitate torture or other
forms of human rights violations of those captured during counterinsurgency
operations."

The law also shortens the time allowed for completing investigations into
alleged human rights abuses by security force members and requires civilian
prosecutors to report to the military on their investigations into
terrorism and war crimes including torture.

A leading Colombian human rights activist said the measure would militarize
the country.

"There will be arrests without warrants, interrogations of civilians on
military bases and impunity for soldiers and police who have violated human
rights," predicted Gustavo Gallon, director of the Colombian Jurists'
Commission.

Pastrana has not spoken publicly on his decision to sign the National
Defense and Security Law, which Colombia's congress approved in June.

But one of the law's authors said Colombia needed tougher legislation given
the nation's serious crisis. "The Colombian people are cornered by
violence," Sen. German Vargas said. "We need instruments to defend ourselves."