LatinNews Daily Report - 07 March 2012

Colombia | Government backtracks on jail inspections. On 6 March Justice Minister Juan Carlos Esguerra said that former senator Piedad Córdoba would not be allowed to visit members of illegal armed groups serving time in Colombian prisons. The minister had authorised said visits last week; however, after Córdoba publicly referred to the inmates as “political, war & conscience prisoners” and the visits as “the initial instalment” in a peace process between the government and guerrilla groups, Esguerra said he did not have the authority to allow the visits. Esguerra informed Córdoba of his new decision in a letter also addressed to President Juan Manuel Santos, whom he said was the only authority who could give the green light to peace negotiations.