Colombia: Parole proposal for demobilized rebels, paramilitaries explained.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

Bogota: President Alvaro Uribe sparked off a new political and social controversy by announcing that he will submit to Congress a proposal which would grant parole to members of illegal armed groups who demobilize or take part in a peace process, even if they have committed heinous crimes.

The administration defended Uribe's proposal and Vice-President Francisco Santos said the government is suggesting this mechanism for the large number of guerrillas and paramilitaries who are fed up with their actions and want to return to civilian life.

"What the president is proposing is not to imprison a guerrilla or …