2024-10-02 19:38:40
The decree prohibits exports of Colombian coal to Israel, under the argument that this resource is used to manufacture weapons in the context of war.
This Tuesday, the Council of State admitted a lawsuit filed by congressmen from the Democratic Center against the decree issued by President Gustavo Petro that prohibits the export of coal to Israel. The lawsuit, led by Senator Miguel Uribe, seeks to repeal the rule, arguing that it affects the national economy and was taken arbitrarily.
The decree, announced by Petro in the midst of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, prohibits exports of Colombian coal to Israel, under the argument that this resource is used to manufacture weapons in the context of war. “With Colombian coal they make bombs to kill the children of Palestine,” said the president, justifying the measure as a political stance against the conflict in the Middle East.
Detrimental decision
However, for Uribe and other opposition congressmen, the decision is detrimental to Colombia and has no legal basis. “The measure is seriously impacting the departments that depend on the coal sector,” said the senator, who also asked the Council of State to consider precautionary measures to temporarily suspend the decree while the litigation is resolved. “We trust that justice will prove us right and put a stop to the authoritarian decisions that Gustavo Petro’s government is taking against the interests of Colombians,” added Uribe.
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The National Government, for its part, has defended the decree, arguing that it is a sovereign and political decision that does not significantly affect the country’s economy. According to the Minister of Finance, Ricardo Bonilla, and the director of the DIAN, Luis Carlos Reyes, the economic impact of the measure is minimal, since coal exports have been redirected to other markets. “Royalties come from coal extraction, not from its export. Therefore, the diversion to new commercial destinations does not affect the income of the territories that depend on these resources,” explained Reyes.
Bonilla, for his part, reaffirmed that the decision responds to the government’s ethical and political stance regarding the conflict in Gaza. “Our country cannot support exported coal generating mechanisms that attack the Palestinian people,” said the minister.
The Council of State must now analyze the arguments of both parties and decide if the measure taken by President Petro complies with the law or if it should be suspended, as requested by the Democratic Center congressmen.
Photo 3: The National Government has defended the decree, arguing that it is a sovereign and political decision that does not significantly affect the country’s economy.
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