00:00Did you know that a government project could punish with up to 30 years in prison the
00:04The use of drones for terrorist purposes? Or that detaining a police officer or taking away their weapon could
00:09Could it be considered kidnapping and carry a sentence of up to 42 years? These are some of the
00:14proposals in the draft anti-terrorism statute that seeks to expand the crimes and increase the
00:19Penalties related to terrorism in Colombia. But what exactly does this bill propose?
00:23And how would it work? First, let's clarify something. This is a draft, not a final version.
00:28current law. The document proposes modifying the Penal Code to create new crimes,
00:32increase the penalties for some that already exist and establish stronger sanctions when a
00:37conduct benefits an organization included in a new register of organizations and actors
00:41terrorists. What does this mean in simple terms?
00:44The government proposes creating a National Registry of Terrorist Organizations and Actors under the responsibility of
00:49from the National Security Council. Organizations would be included there based on lists.
00:54binding United Nations resolutions, foreign designations, and autonomous decisions of Colombia.
00:59Why is this list important? Because several of the new penalties would depend on whether
01:03a person acts in the best interests of an organization that is included there. For example, the project
01:08It proposes that detaining a police officer or soldier on duty, preventing him from moving by means of a cordon
01:14Disarming him could be considered kidnapping. The proposed sentence would be between 26 and 42 years.
01:20of prison. In addition, the proposal contemplates increasing the penalty for simple kidnapping when the act benefits
01:25to an organization included in this register or puts life, health or the environment at risk.
01:30Another point is related to the protests and mobilizations.
01:34The draft creates the crime of using civilians for political purposes. In simple terms,
01:39Anyone who promotes, finances, organizes, or directs crowds to, for example,
01:44obstructing law enforcement operations, surrounding or detaining units, releasing captured persons
01:49or recover seized property. The penalty would be between 10 and 18 years in prison.
01:54But there is a condition: it would have to be proven that those actions were for the benefit of a
01:59organization included in the register. The government says this rule does not seek
02:03not to punish social protest, but to prevent a terrorist organization from using the population
02:08civil. However, the draft itself acknowledges that the limit would have to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.
02:13because the article uses broad expressions such as promoting crowds or obstructing operations
02:18and does not include an explicit exclusion for protest. It also proposes harsher penalties.
02:22related to illegal mining. For example, it proposes punishments of between 8 and 18 years in prison.
02:28certain forms of illegal mining. The aim is to prosecute those who
02:33supply machinery, fuels, mercury, cyanide or other elements intended for these operations.
02:39And we need to discuss the restrictions before an indictment. The bill would allow a judge
02:44impose restrictions on a person when there are reasons that link them to an organization
02:48included in the register, even when there is still no grounds to charge him with any crime.
02:53Finally, the project proposes increasing the penalties for existing crimes, such as theft.
02:58of hydrocarbons, smuggling, human trafficking, drug trafficking, extortion and
03:03Some cybercrimes, especially when they benefit an organization included in the
03:07register or endanger life, health, or the environment. In short, the draft seeks to expand
03:13behaviors that may be considered related to terrorism, create new crimes, increase
03:17penalties and give a central role to the registration of terrorist organizations and actors.
03:22But it's important to emphasize that this is a draft, and its proposals still need to be reviewed.
03:27the corresponding procedure to become law.
03:45Thank you!
