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Colombian senators ordered to wear bulletproof vests
September 4, 1997
Web posted at: 3:21 p.m. EDT (1921 GMT)From Correspondent Ronnie Lovler
BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- The president of Colombia's Senate has ordered bulletproof vests for Colombian senators, and is telling his colleagues they must wear them in public.
Colombian Senate President Amilkar Acosta took the action after the insurance company that provides coverage for the Senate recommended that the legislators use the protective vests.
"The risk level for legislators is growing every day, especially after the recent murder of Senator Jorge Cristo," Acosta said.
Cristo, killed by leftist rebels in northeastern Colombia last month, was just one of dozens of politicians assassinated in Colombia this year.
Political violence is expected to increase in the weeks leading up to the October 26 provincial elections. Leftist guerrillas have pledged to sabotage the vote.
But opposition senators -- including two who received death threats for their stance against drug traffickers -- say mandating the use of bulletproof vests solves nothing.
"I believe it is just a cosmetic measure," said Sen. Guillermo Giraldo. "Maybe it helps a little, gives you 2 percent more protection, but it doesn't solve the security problem."
Sen. Claudia Blum agreed. "Galan Sarmiento was assassinated and he was wearing a bulletproof vest," she said. "How do you protect a candidate's head?"
With a reported 300 vests on order, others argue that the ones getting the greatest benefit are the companies that manufacture them.
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