Colombia's Uribe jeered in public debate with kidnapped soldier's father

[Judi Lynn]

Source: International Herald Tribune/Associated Press

Colombia's Uribe jeered in public debate with kidnapped soldier's father
The Associated Press
Published: August 2, 2007

BOGOTA, Colombia: President Alvaro Uribe was booed and heckled in a most unusual public debate with a schoolteacher who walked halfway across Colombia to plead for a prisoner exchange with leftist rebels.

At one point during the extraordinary, impromptu appearance Thursday with his Cabinet members on the steps of Congress, Uribe denied being a front man for drug traffickers and far-right paramilitaries. Uribe even invited a young female heckler on stage and debated her, too, as about 3,000 people gathered around them in Bogota's central square.

The unprecedented political theater, broadcast live for more than two hours across the nation, was a reminder of how deeply divided Colombia remains over how to obtain freedom for the hostages held by leftist rebels.
It followed a 30-minute meeting Uribe held with schoolteacher Gustavo Moncayo, whose soldier son Pablo Emilio was captured a decade ago in a raid by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

Moncayo and other captives' families want Uribe to exchange hundreds of imprisoned rebels for more than 700 guerrilla-held captives. The rebels, however, are demanding that the military first temporarily quit a New York City-sized area of southwest Colombia, something Uribe once again rejected Thursday.


Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/03/america/LA-GEN-Colombia-Kidnap-Protest.php

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombian court defends "para" ruling, slams Uribe

Colombian court defends "para" ruling, slams Uribe
03 Aug 2007 01:58:00 GMT

More By Hugh Bronstein

BOGOTA, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Colombia's Supreme Court on Thursday stood by its decision to stop former paramilitaries from holding public office, despite cries from the government the ruling will torpedo the country's peace process.

President Alvaro Uribe accuses the court of being biased against his plan for granting pardons and political rights to thousands of right-wing "paras" who have laid down their arms after 20 years of fighting leftist insurgents.

The court struck back with a statement on Thursday "energetically rejecting" Uribe's comments and accusing him of "undo and unacceptable interference" with the judicial system.

A Supreme Court ruling in July shook the foundation of Uribe's paramilitary peace accord by saying demobilized fighters must be charged with common crimes like drug trafficking and murder rather than with political crimes, which can be pardoned.

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N02470553.htm