UN human rights chief urges Colombia to be tough on militant crimes
UN human rights chief Louise Arbour urged the Colombian government on Saturday to tighten its peace proposal and ensure that the atrocities committed by militant groups are punished.

Arbour, who ended her four-day trip to Colombia on Saturday, told a press reference that the peace proposal by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe should be strengthened with regard to the right to truth.

"Without the full truth being exposed, justice is compromised and reparations (to the victims of these crimes) are compromised," Arbour said.

Under the peace deal, which is now being debated in the congress, the government may reduce sentences to militant members, some of whom have been involved in massacre, in exchange for their disarmament.

Arbour insisted that the accord violates international norms because it is too soft on militants accused of atrocities. However, the Colombian president said he backed the bill for peace, adding that there is no impunity in his country.

Meanwhile, Government Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo attributed Arbour's position to a "regrettable lack of information."