For the first time, Colombia declines rebel extradition to U.S.. Not because Colombia’s judicial system has cleaned up its act and the country no longer needs to outsource justice, but because of the FARC “peace talks:”

The South American country will not turn over Juan Vicente Carvajal, known by his nom de guerre Misael, a fighter with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), to a court in New York, according to an executive resolution by President Juan Manuel Santos.

The order was signed by Santos in October and made public on Tuesday. It marks the first time a rebel extradition has been refused by Colombia for reasons directly related to the 3-year-old peace talks, which are taking place in Havana, Cuba. The two sides have set a March 23 deadline for the signing of a final accord.

Santos is making good on his promise from last March that he would prevent the extradition of FARC members.

The Economist looks at extradition (video below the fold since it starts right away),
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