The government of President Abelardo de la Espriella will present Colombia’s Congress with a comprehensive “counterterrorism statute,” which would give authorities enhanced powers to fight designated terrorist organizations. A 116-page draft bill, which was leaked to Caracol Radio, would facilitate a military approach to combat illegal armed groups and organized crime groups, for example through air strikes. The Antiterrorism Statute would additionally create a National Registry of Terrorist Organizations and Actors, which would make it easier to freeze the assets of suspected terrorists and their financiers. Last but not least, the bill creates a presidential Terrorism Commissioner and a special prison regime for leaders of designated terrorist organizations. Broader definition of terrorism The bill seeks to change Colombia’s criminal law and define terrorism as any individual or collective conduct that produces “fear, panic or terror, creating risks, threats or the use of violence.” A technical body of the National Security Council (NSC) will advise the council on the inclusion of organizations or individuals that ought to be included to its public National Registry of Terrorist …