Republicans threaten to block US aid for Colombia peace process
Republicans threaten to block US aid for Colombia peace process
written by Jack Norman December 11, 2016
Two prominent US senators have threatened to block the proposed $450 million US aid package to Colombia if outgoing President Barack Obama pardons a leader of the Marxist FARC group, which signed peace last month.
In a letter to the president dated Thursday, Republican Senators Marco Rubio (Florida) and Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) wrote that they believe the Colombian government asked Obama to release “Simon Trinidad,” who is serving a 60-year sentence at a maximum security prison for conspiracy.
Simon Trinidad is a senior ideologue of the Marxist FARC group, which has asked for the repatriation of their comrade to take part in their country’s peace process.
After numerous failed attempts to imprison Trinidad on drug trafficking charges, the FARC leader was sentenced to 60 years on conspiracy charges for his relation to the kidnapping of three American military contractors in 2003.
More:
http://colombiareports.com/republicans-threaten-block-us-aid-colombia-peace-process/
LBN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141637665
