Paramilitary-Backed Colombian Senator Will Go to Prison

[Judi Lynn]

Ex-President Alvaro Uribe (L) and Ex-Senator Luis Ramos. | Photo: Twitter/ @lavozdepueblo1.

Published 1 October 2021

Colombia's Supreme Court sentenced the former senator and Antioquia's former governor Luis Ramos to almost eight years in prison due to his ties to paramilitary groups.

He received economic and political support from right-wing groups during his electoral campaigns. In exchange, the politician offered to lessen the pressure of the security forces on these illegal organizations.

This agreement was made effective while Ramos served as senator between 2001 and 2007. In this period, besides receiving money from the paramilitary leader Juan Sierra, Ramos got support from the Centauros Bloc, the Gas Cartel, and the Metro Block.

Later, when this politician served as Antioquia governor (2008-2011), he participated in activities of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), a paramilitary group with links to the Democratic Center (DC), a party founded by former President Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010). In fact, Ramos was a DC member since 2013.

More:
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Paramilitary-Backed-Colombian-Senator-Will-Go-to-Prison-20211001-0013.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Political patron of Colombia's president convicted over terrorist ties

by Adriaan Alsema October 1, 2021

Colombia’s Supreme Court convicted one of the political patrons of President Ivan Duque for his ties to drug traffickers and designated terrorists.

According to the court, now-defunct paramilitary organization AUC financed election campaigns of conservative power mogul Luis Alfredo Ramos in 2001 and 2007.

In return, Ramos helped drug traffickers and AUC chiefs on a US list of international terrorists to evade justice and American extradition requests.

According to extradited members of the Medellin mafia and paramilitary commanders, Ramos received campaign funding from drug traffickers from his native Antioquia province since 1998.

More:
https://colombiareports.com/political-patron-of-colombias-president-convicted-over-terrorist-ties/