Silva: Not defending Uribe, defending principles

[Judi Lynn]

Silva: Not defending Uribe, defending principles
Monday, 13 December 2010 10:02 Scott Kobewka

Colombia's Ambassador to the U.S. Gabriel Silva said that Colombia's request for the diplomatic immunity of former President Alvaro Uribe is not in defense of Uribe but in defense of principles, reports RCN.

Earlier this week Silva sent an open letter to the U.S. State Department asking for the diplomatic immunity of the former president. Silva said, "I am not defending the former President Uribe who, incidentally, I would defend in any case." He said he is defending the principal of diplomatic immunity as outlined in international treaties.

Silva said that the principle of diplomatic immunity protects former State officials who made decisions on behalf of the state. Silva said that he has defended the diplomatic immunity of Colombia's leaders in the past. He mentioned that he defended former President Alfonso Lopez Michelsen when he was called to testify against Manuel Antonio Noriega of Panama, and then-Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos when he was called to Ecuador to testify about "Operation Phoenix."

The Ambassador's letter comes a month after Uribe was summoned to testify in a civil case against Alabama coal giant Drummond over the company's alleged ties to paramilitary death squads. An anti-Uribe activist thew the subpoena at Uribe's feet when he was visiting Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/13372-silva-defending-principles.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombia allegedly pushes US to grant Uribe immunity

Colombia allegedly pushes US to grant Uribe immunity
Posted by: Chris Heller in Vox Populi

Colombian Ambassador Gabriel Luján has requested that the United States grant immunity to former Álvaro Uribe, according to Colombia Reports and La FM.

“The request is exceptional, because generally this type of immunity is granted to present heads of state, not former heads of state,” Colombia Reports‘ Adriaan Alsema added.

Uribe, the former president of Colombia who was invited to lecture on campus this year, was subpoenaed in early November to appear at a civil trial against Drummond Coal. However, he did not testify, not appear at the courthouse. According to the National Catholic Reporter, plantiffs in the case believe that Uribe may have known about a deal cut between Drummond and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia, a paramilitary group.

Luján, who was Colombia’s Minister of National Defense until Uribe’s term ended last summer, became Colombia’s ambassador to the United States in October.

http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/2010/12/08/colombia-allegedly-pushes-us-to-grant-uribe-immunity/

[mudplanet]

2. Aren't fascists and rich people automatically granted immunity for

murder? Historically, it seems they are.