40 politicians investigated for political alliance with paramilitary group (Colombia death squad)

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Colombia Reports

40 politicians investigated for political alliance with paramilitary group .
Tuesday, 12 June 2012 12:12 Adriaan Alsema

Colombia's Prosecutor General's Office announced Tuesday it will order some 40 politicians from the northwest of the country to respond to accusations that they had ties to the local paramilitary death squad.

The politicians, all from the departments of Antioquia and Cordoba, will have to explain their participation in a political project led by local paramilitary commander Freddy Rendon, alias "El Aleman."

The project "For a Peaceful, United and Great Urabá" sought to unite forces of El Aleman's paramilitary "Bloque Elmer Cardenas" and local politicians.

Some 25 politicians were arrested in March 2010 for their alliance with the group held responsible for at least 110 crimes against humanity in the Uraba region.

Read more: http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/24536-40-politicians-investigated-for-political-alliance-with-paramilitary-group.html

[geek tragedy]

1. Whoa. This is unexpected.

Colombia doesn't have a great record against rw thug squads.

[EFerrari]

2. Someday maybe we will be as democratic as Colombia.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. This went on while we were giving billions to the Colombian cops and military.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Colombia's congress approves controversial justice reform .

Colombia's congress approves controversial justice reform .
Thursday, 14 June 2012 21:28 Adriaan Alsema

Colombia's congress on Thursday approved a controversial justice reform that has been widely rejected by the country's high courts and improves the legal defense mechanisms for Congressmen under criminal investigation.

According to the newly approved constitutional reform, congressmen can no longer be charged by the Prosecutor General's Office and convicted by the Supreme Court in a single trial, but obtain the right to appeal through the division of the Supreme Court in an investigative and a ruling unit. Additionally, congressmen can not be arrested until after being formally charged, this in contrary to normal citizens who are generally charged after their arrest.

This measure was approved at a time that 138 former congressmen are on trial for their ties to paramilitary groups and 38 have been sentenced to jail for their paramilitary links. An additional number of (former) congressmen is being investigated for corruption or other crimes.

~snip~

The Congress' Accusations Commission, currently investigating former President Alvaro Uribe for allegedly ordering the wiretapping of political opponents and the Supreme Court, will be replaced by a new commission that "serves to lead the impeachment process against those officials who enjoy constitutional immunity and are charged on criminal, disciplinary or political grounds."

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/24606-colombias-congress-approves-controversial-justice-reform.html