Article confirms what we've been hearing: Colombia: paras linked to agbiz

[Judi Lynn]

Colombia: paras linked to agbiz
Submitted by WW4 Report on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 00:04.

In an interview published in El Tiempo on December 22, {j}ournalist Yamid Amat asked: "What was it that the Attorney General's office discovered and is investigating in the Chocó?" and Attorney General Mario Iguarán replied: “The tragedy of the communities in the Jiguamiandó, Curvaradó y Domingodó river basins. In the '80s they suffered through the presence of the FARC and in the '90s that of the self-defense groups and the Castaño family. There are accusations that the self-defense groups threw people off their lands to eradicate the guerrilla groups. But there are indicators that these expulsions were not exactly to get rid of the guerrilla, but to take control of land that was owned by the community. After receiving hundreds of testimonies, carrying out judicial investigations at the palm oil companies, in banks, notaries and in the Registry public offices, the Attorney General's office just opened a formal investigation into the representatives of these companies." Read the full interview in Spanish here.

As part of the legal proceedings in case 3856, the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Special Invesitagions Unit of the Attorney General's office, opened a formal investigation against 23 businessmen and land buyers from Antioquia whose companies occupy the collective territories of Curvaradó and Jiguamiandó in the lower Atrato river region of Chocó. Among the crimes committed are forced displacement, land usurpation, falsifying public documents and crimes against the environment.

According to the information published in the newspaper, the actions of these businessmen are associated with the presence of paramilitaries in the region since 1996. Demobilized paramilitary boss Fredy Rendon Herrera alias "El Alemán," made declarations stating that the military control of the region happened as part of an operation carried out by the brothers Castaño Gil, and that it wasn’t until the year 2001, when african palm started being planted, that the area was given over to the control of the Elmer Cardenas block. Mario Iguaran affirmed in the interview "the paramilitaries weren't looking for anyone, but rather, people looked for them" (meaning it wasn't the companies which started their businesses and then found the paramilitaries to protect them, but the companies who sent the paramilitaries in to clear and take control of the land).

While this investigation is a positive step forward, the organization Justicia y Paz warns that the displaced communities still face risks as they affirm their rights to Life and Territory. Read the full communiqué of La Comisión Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz.

http://ww4report.com/node/5006

[Judi Lynn]

1. Here's the interview, mentioned above, after going through the google translator!

Foto: John W. Vizcaíno / EL TIEMPO

Iguarán proposed to be granted to the Attorney powers to
implement the principle of opportunity and give them legal
exit 19 thousand former "paras".

December 22, 2007 --
A 23 businessmen palm investigation for the crime of forced displacement in Chocó
The attorney general, Mario Iguarán, reveals that investigates whether these companies hired to paramilitaries in order to keep land in the black communities.


Yamid Amat: What had discovered and investigated the Prosecution in the Choco?


Mario Iguarán: The tragedy of the community of the rivers Jiguamiandó, Curvaradó and Domingodó. In the 80 suffered the presence of the FARC and the paramilitaries of the 90 of Brown. There are some remarks on a vacation of the paramilitary groups with the argument that it was to root out guerrillas. There are indications that these evictions were not so much to evict the guerrillas, but for appropriating land that belong to the community. After receiving more than a hundred testimonies, practicing judicial inspections in companies growing palm, oil, banks, notaries and offices Instruments Registration and Public OTP has just opened a formal investigation and sort through linking questioning the representatives of several companies.


What employers?


Representatives, including Selva Wet, Urapalma, Palmura, Investment Agropalma, Palmas de Bajirá, Palmadó, Palms of Curvaradó and Investment Fregny Ochoa, the alleged commission, among other crimes, conspiracy to commit a crime, usurpation of land and one very serious, forced displacement.


How many are in total?


Over 20.


Is the confirmation of the use of self-defence by employers?


The paramilitaries did not seek anyone, but that they sought.


How far will lead the investigation?


As far as the facts and prove its right to apply the order.


The legal status of 19,000 paramilitaries

What will happen to 19 thousand 'for' rasos whose status has not been defined?


That is a serious problem. From the Supreme Court decision, we have to abide by, on the understanding that they could not engage in sedition, we would have to enter judicializarlos and that is an impossible task.


Is it essential to the law that qualifies the crime of those 19 thousand paramilitary?


It is absolutely urgent.


And if the resistance continues Congress to approve ...


It will endanger the process of demobilizing militants rasos and say we are not lies: a risk of a return to war.


Do not engage parliamentarians in the crime to legislate for the benefit of himself or his colleagues if approved?


There are understandable concerns of the congressmen, but this is a tool to resolve the legal status of demobilized rasos, which in no way benefit anyone else.


As the Congress is very reluctant to approve the law, what would be the exit?


Give authority to the Attorney for implementing the principle of opportunity. That could enable an exit, assuming the Prosecution and the judges responsible for ensuring that only apply to rasos demobilized.


The president of the Criminal Division of the Court asked you about the investigation of the farmers who applied in Sucre ...


Firstly do not know document sent by the Supreme Court where they make me any counterclaim or warning. Secondly, what I have is a document of the Court with a list of various investigations to be taken into account for the exchange of evidence. For example, within that list referred to the case of former governor of Sucre Salvador Arana, Enilce Lopez is known as' The Street '; processes, among many others, where the OTP has much to show before it to answer. In the case of some farmers, the Prosecution before the initiation of the investigation and ordered link through questioning.


Allegations of offenders

How far is true that exposing an offender is sufficient to call to trial or parliamentary officials?


Versions are allowing us to know the truth, to give one example, we have known and enlightened more than 700 murders of which we had no information or research. However references made by versioned undergo verification processes.


That is, are valid complaints from criminals?


It is valid to do so, but it is not sufficient for the Prosecutor's Office open investigation. These references should be to look at in context and compare them.

How will Justice and Peace?


For track. Large convictions to the Colombian profieren that international courts are not so much because there are massacres in Colombia, but because to them there is no justice, there is impunity. A large number of cases now being supplied to these cuts are being resolved by Justice and Peace. We have initiated 1,057 prosecutions version free and completed 942. Exhumamos 1,196 bodies found in 997 mass graves, where he was buried the truth.


The case Jose Obdulio Gaviria

In recent days have made complaints about relatives presidential adviser Jose Obdulio Gaviria linked to the assassination of Minister Rodrigo Lara. Will reopen the investigation then?


The mood is desempolvar records that stand as monuments to impunity, but we can not reach extremes as President Chavez is going to reopen the investigation into the death of the liberator Bolivar. In the case of former minister Lara, my teacher, dispusimos a preliminary inquiry to dispel any doubts about a possible prescription. While the requirements may waive who are considered as potential searchable.


How far a relative of Pablo Escobar, as Jose Obdulio Gaviria, can motivate resignations of public officials because of this link?


From the legal point of view, the inbreeding of Dr. Gaviria with the criminal Pablo Escobar because they would not radiate. Moreover, something else for which no personal I think.


So on the allegations that have been made 'The Spectator' and other means nothing can be done?


Prosecutors and investigators should not be less than investigative work that makes the media. But first we must ask ourselves whether we are concerned by the phenomenon of prescription. Then ask if we are capable; think so.

What happened to 'Tasmania'?


What happened to the investigation that President Uribe asked the Prosecutor on the case of a judge who apparently sought a declaration alias' Tasmania 'against him?


It created a Task Group to the case, both of the alleged bribe a witness and instigation to commit a crime and alleged illegal offers of rewards for collaboration Orlando Moncada, 'Tasmania', for the alleged attack on the integrity of Dr. Ivan Velasquez and Obstruction of Justice.


What has made this group and when there will be decisions?


There have been nearly 50 inquiries in addition to inspections. Also interviews with 'Tasmania', his attorney, INPEC officials, a businessman Antioquia, the brother of the President, the judges assistants included Dr. Velasquez, the High Commissioner and who had to do with the statement by Edwin Guzman, person who stated in the Colombian consulate in New York. We hope to resolve it in January.


You are sectors that you are asked to be separated from the Government and sectors that you are asked to be removed from the Court. What will?


I am not going to alienate either the government or the Supreme Court, because I need to be close to the two to comply with the development of a policy on crime.


Research on 'chuzadas'

In what state is the investigation into the alleged 'chuzadas' phones to the President?


Raul Grajales complained to the Attorney alleged extortion, pointing to Fernando Herrera Zuluaga, 'Mechuda', as the author. The Prosecution ordered undercover agents ordered interceptions, all of them supported by Judge control guarantees, and was intercepted telephone Mr Herrera Zuluaga. During this interception was reported conversation between the President and Herrera Zuluaga. However, what the media are not properly disclosed the content of the conversation heard by investigators from the Prosecutor's Office. It involved the phone Herrera; never the President.


Is it to say that it was not a leak from the public prosecutor's office?


It could not be ...


So, who chuzó?


We do not know. This is what we are investigating.


Cases of admiral Arango Bacci and governor of Cundinamarca

In the case of Admiral Arango Bacci, if the big test was a footprint proved that he had received money and that it was false, did not collapse?


That can only be when you say has exhausted all of this process of collection of evidence, taking of evidence and the valuation.


Is the footprint was false?


The prosecutor in the case I am and I can not pronounce.


And if the governor Ardila?


We are not careful and we can act for reasons of media type, the only thing I can assure is that we have not rested or saved efforts to research and make a decision on justice. In this case, a number of opportunities have been in days of hours in the High Court of Bogota to enable me to make inspections, investigations, etc..


The penal system accusatory

In one week will run throughout the country the adversarial criminal justice system, do you what to do with thousands of records left in the old system?


As well as working on the implementation of the accusatory system, infrastructure and training, we also know that we can not spend all the new tax system. Moreover, most of the prosecutors are trying to clear and settle what began on the previous system, because the adversarial system itself, which requires a decongestion.


But on January goes into effect throughout the country ...


Of course. No offence is not known by the new system, but we must continue to work with the old to liquidate.


Item end: what seemed to him the charges against Salvatore Mancuso Attorney Cúcuta in the sense that he had ordered the murder of two prosecutors, thanks to the information provided by it ...


The most disappointing. Is your partner to be your executioner. The disloyalty goes hand in hand with crime.

YAMID AMAT
SPECIAL TO "El Tiempo"

http://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/2007-12-23/ARTICULO-PRINTER_FRIENDLY-PRINTER_FRIENDLY-3872467.html

[magbana]

2. EXCELLENT INFO!

Great stuff, Judi! I'm going to read this more thoroughly later tonight. Thanks for the translation on the interview.