Colombia Prosecutor General reopens 'parapolitics' case against Alvaro Uribe .

[Judi Lynn]

Colombia Prosecutor General reopens 'parapolitics' case against Alvaro Uribe .
Tuesday, 08 January 2013 11:45 Jacob Stringer

Colombia's Prosecutor General on Tuesday announced the reopening of a preliminary investigation against former president Alvaro Uribe regarding alleged links to paramilitaries.
Testimonies from two imprisoned ex-paramilitaries given to congressman Ivan Cepeda convinced the Prosecutor General's Office that a new investigation was warranted.

"This is undoubtedly the most important step in Colombian justice in the terrible case of parapolitics. It is the first time an investigation has been opened in the ordinary courts against former President Uribe for serious crimes - related even to massacres - in Antioquia during his tenure as governor, " said Cepeda, who tweeted news of the reopened investigation Tuesday morning.

According to local media, Pablo Hernan Sierra and Juan Monsalve, demobilized members of the now-defunct paramilitary group, AUC, said Uribe helped found paramilitary groups in Antioquia while he was governor. They also claimed that the "Metro Bloc" of the AUC was formed on one of Uribe's properties, Hacienda Guacharacas.

Juan Guillermo Monsalve also reportedly accused Uribe of being involved with the paramilitary group that committed a massacre at San Roque, Antioquia.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/27606-colombia-prosecutor-general-reopens-parapolitics-case-against-alvaro-uribe.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Preliminary probe into Colombia’s Uribe for allegedly sponsoring far-right militia

Preliminary probe into Colombia’s Uribe for allegedly sponsoring far-right militia
By Associated Press,
Updated: Tuesday, January 8, 2:29 PM

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s chief prosecutor’s office has opened a preliminary criminal investigation into former President Alvaro Uribe over allegations he sponsored a killer far-right militia as a regional governor in the 1990s.

The probe ordered on Jan. 2 was made public Tuesday by Uribe’s attorney, Jaime Granados. Uribe denounced it on Twitter as defamation based on the testimony of “manipulated prisoners.”

It stems from 2011 accusations by leftist congressman Ivan Cepeda that a far-right militia that killed suspected rebel sympathizers operated from a ranch owned by Uribe and his brother Santiago.

The prosecutor in charge of the case is Martha Lucia Zamora and she says it is based on the testimony of former militia members. Granada says it is built on lies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/preliminary-probe-into-colombias-uribe-for-allegedly-sponsoring-far-right-militia/2013/01/08/11f2d732-59d2-11e2-b8b2-0d18a64c8dfa_story.html

[Judi Lynn]

2. Colombia's Alvaro Uribe investigated for 'militia links'

9 January 2013 Last updated at 06:20 ET
Colombia's Alvaro Uribe investigated for 'militia links'

Colombia's attorney general's office has reopened a preliminary criminal investigation against former President Alvaro Uribe.

Mr Uribe is accused of involvement with far-right paramilitary groups while he was a state governor in the 1990s.

~snip~
The prisoners say Mr Uribe had strong links to the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) and was involved in ordering a killing, while governing the state of Antioquia.

~snip~

A number of closes aides of Mr Uribe's, including his cousin Mario Uribe, have been found guilty of collaborating with the AUC.

More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20956820

[sabrina 1]

3. Another US ally, another criminal. Why do we always support these brutal, criminal

right wing leaders, while slamming decent, democratic leaders like Chavez? Something is very wrong about this and now that we are all learning more and more about our Government's activities in these countries and elsewhere, it is up to the people to end these criminal policies. I have hope that it will happen especially in Latin America as more leaders like Chavez emerge and the people experience real democracy and an end to the right wing, US supported dictatorships.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Prosecutor explains why case against Alvaro Uribe was repoened .

Prosecutor explains why case against Alvaro Uribe was repoened .
Friday, 11 January 2013 11:24 Rob Edmond

The prosecution against Colombia's former president Alvaro Uribe on Thursday revealed why the case accusing him of having ties to the now-disbanded paramilitary group AUC has been reopened.

Uribe is charged with playing an important role in founding paramilitary groups and providing personal training to key members on his own property while he was governor of the department of Antioquia. The former president has always proclaimed his innocence despite mounting testimonies. The "parapolitics" case against Uribe was closed in 2000, only to be reopened again 13 years later.

A 13-page document reportedly sent to Colombian newspaper El Espectador notes that Uribe’s long-standing political enemy, human rights advocate and house representative Ivan Cepeda, who is again spearheading the campaign against the former president, collected numerous statements from imprisoned ex-members of the AUC. Among the statements is one from Pablo Hernan Sierra, alias "Alberto Guerrero," the former member of a militarized AUC block, who stated that in Antioquia sometime in the mid-90s, a "private army" was created by numerous people, including Uribe.

Another statement came from, Juan Monsalve Pineda, the son of the man who owned the farm Uribe apparently used for the inception and training of the AUC. The man reiterated that the group the former president formed, was responsible for massacres across the country.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/27662-prosecutor-explains-why-case-against-alvaro-uribe-was-repoened.html

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Alvaro Uribe and his American friend.[/center]