Colombian politician wants former VP investigated for paramilitary ties . [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Colombian politician wants former VP investigated for paramilitary ties .
Friday, 18 May 2012 10:29
Brandon Barrett

House Representative Ivan Cepeda asked Colombian authorities Friday to investigate former Vice President Francisco Santos for his alleged ties to paramilitaries.

In a letter Cepeda requested the Prosecutor General's Office take into account the statements of extradited former AUC leader Salvatore Mancuso, who claims Santos held meetings with him and late AUC commander Carlos Castaño when he served as editor of Colombian newspaper El Tiempo in the late 1990s.

"I requested that an investigation be conducted due to the serious statements of former paramilitary chief Salvatore Mancuso in an interview with Caracol Radio, in which he states that he met with former Vice President of the Republic, Francisco Santos Calderon, who expressed interest in the paramilitary and even proposed the creation of a self-defense bloc in Bogota," said Cepeda.

"An investigation should be started as soon as possible to clarify the veracity of these claims and in the defense of the victims of heinous crimes committed by these paramilitary structures in the recent history of our country," he added.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/24127-colombian-politician-wants-former-vp-to-be-investigated-for-paramilitary-ties.html