Legal foundations of military life in Colombia.

An examination of a major portion of the legal provisions for the Colombian Republic's military establishment. Among the findings are that virtually all aspects of Colombian military life are regulated by law. The Constitution provides for the establishment of a permanent army, and statutory and decree laws regulate in detail the recruitment, assignment, training, promotion, retirement, compensation, and discipline of military personnel. When disputes arise over the enforcement of military rights and duties, they are adjudicated by both military and nonmilitary tribunals. The Colombian military appear to have easier access to the legislative process than other sectors of Colombian society, and laws affecting the military tend to be enacted with unusual dispatch. Legislative sources also point to increased military participation in such activities as building roads, manufacturing weapons, handling airmail and air freight, fighting epidemics, and building and managing hotels. 89 pp.