Colombia prosecutors open formal probe into Alvaro Uribe’s alleged ties to right-wing militias

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Colombia prosecutors open formal probe into Alvaro Uribe’s alleged ties to right-wing militias
By Associated Press, Published: September 25

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombian prosecutors have opened a formal investigation into the brother of former President Alvaro Uribe for allegedly sponsoring a far-right militia.

The probe announced Wednesday stems from accusations by a retired police major that Santiago Uribe formed a death squad in the 1990s in Antioquia state, where his brother was governor.

As president from 2002 to 2010, Alvaro Uribe made peace with the so-called paramilitaries, who committed the bulk of killings in Colombia’s long-running war.

More than 80 politicians, most of them allies of Alvaro Uribe, have been imprisoned for criminal conspiracy since 2006 for colluding with paramilitaries.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/colombia-prosecutors-open-formal-probe-into-alvaro-uribes-alleged-ties-to-right-wing-militias/2013/09/25/ee2f2dde-262a-11e3-9372-92606241ae9c_story.html

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George W. Bush awards Alvaro Uribe the Medal of Freedom

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[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombia investigates Uribe brother's militia ties

Colombia investigates Uribe brother's militia ties
Sep 25, 5:36 PM EDT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- Colombian prosecutors have opened a formal investigation into the brother of former President Alvaro Uribe for allegedly sponsoring a far-right militia.

The probe announced Wednesday stems from accusations by a retired police major that Santiago Uribe formed a death squad in the 1990s in Antioquia state, where his brother was governor.

As president from 2002 to 2010, Alvaro Uribe made peace with the so-called paramilitaries, who committed the bulk of killings in Colombia's long-running war.

More than 80 politicians, most of them allies of Alvaro Uribe, have been imprisoned for criminal conspiracy since 2006 for colluding with paramilitaries.

More:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_COLOMBIA_URIBE_BROTHER?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[formercia]

2. It's about Time.

Where Uribe went to ground is a good indication of who was supporting his activities.

It seems that Operation Paperclip is still affecting our behavior.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Interesting. I wonder if that bunch yukking it up on the Maduro thread have anything to say?

Nah. I didn't think so.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Uribe’s brother interrogated over paramilitary ties and murder

Uribe’s brother interrogated over paramilitary ties and murder
posted by Charlie de Rivaz
Sep 26, 2013

Colombian prosecutors have opened an investigation into the brother of former President Avaro Uribe on accusations of being involved in both the creation of paramilitary groups and murder.

Santiago Uribe Velez will face the Prosecutor General on October 17 in order to respond to his alleged involvement in the creation of a paramilitary death squad in Antioquia department, where his brother was governor between 1995 and 1998.

This is the first time that one of the ex-president’s closest family members has been called before the Prosecutor General as part of an investigation. Alvaro Uribe is currently under investigation for “parapolitics” – having links with paramilitary groups.

~snip~
Santiago Uribe was allegedly involved in the creation of a group known as “The 12 Apostles,” who operated almost 20 years ago in the area of Yarumal, northern Antioquia, where the Uribe family ranch – Finca Carolina – was located. He was also allegedly involved in the murder of Camilo Barrientos Duran on February 25, 1994, at the Finca Carolina.

More:
http://colombiareports.co/uribes-brother-investigated-paramilitaries-ties-murder/

[Judi Lynn]

6. Uribe’s family accumulated peasant lands, used government funds to develop them: Colombia congressma

Uribe’s family accumulated peasant lands, used government funds to develop them: Colombia congressman
posted by Steven Cohen
Oct 3, 2013

During his time as president, Alvaro Uribe used his political influence to steer government funds to properties acquired illegally by his family, according to a vocal Uribe opponent in the Colombian congress.

Representative Ivan Cepeda took to the media Wednesday, accusing Uribe of directing a public irrigation initiative to a municipality in which his family’s landholdings company, Agropecuaria El Uberrimo S.A.S. had purchased territories designated for small-scale agricultural production.

Between 1993 and 2003, claims Cepeda, the Uribe-Moreno family purchased four government properties set aside for poor, landless farmers. According to Cepeda, the purchases not only violated the spirit of the statute — designed to open land access to historically excluded rural farmers — but also exceeded the maximum Family Agricultural Unit designated by the law.

Then in 2008, Uribe reportedly manipulated an initiative to improve irrigation systems in 11 rural “adaptation districts” to benefit his family’s holdings.

More:
http://colombiareports.co/uribe-family-accumulated-peasant-lands-used-government-funds-develop-colombian-congressman/