Colombia peace court likens proposed budget cut to 'strangulation'

Colombia's special peace tribunal on Friday accused President Abelardo de la Espriella's right-wing government of "economic strangulation" following a proposal to slash the court's budget by more than $30 million.

The tribunal, created by a landmark peace deal with the now-defunct rebel army FARC in 2016, administers justice for the worst crimes of Colombia's decades-long armed conflict.

De la Espriella, who has promised war over dialogue with guerrillas, wants to dismantle the court, which he views as too lenient on guerrillas and too tough on official armed forces.

Pro-government Senator Enrique Gomez on Thursday introduced a bill to reduce the state budget allocated to the tribunal by around $31 million.

Gomez, who calls the court "the jurisdiction of impunity," instead wants the funds to go toward the traditional justice system.

"Let this be published, communicated, and carried out!" De la Espriella wrote on X in reference to the bill.

The proposal "demonstrates the existence of a strategy to prevent the court from functioning" through "economic strangulation," its president Alejandro Ramelli said Friday.

He called on the international community to "stop this initiative," adding that it amounted to a "serious attack" on the court's independence.

The tribunal, which issued its first verdicts last year, hands down alternative sentences to prison time.

Its supporters say that an acknowledgment by those on trial of their role in the conflict will contribute to Colombia's understanding of its own history and help maintain lasting peace.

In one ruling, senior FARC leaders were sentenced to eight years of community service, as well as having their movements restricted, after carrying out over 21,000 kidnappings.

Twelve retired military officers responsible for the disappearance and extrajudicial execution of civilians received similar sentences.