From the archives, a reality check A list of new paramilitary groups
Nov 302006

Para-politics scandal update

Human Rights, Peace and Conflict Add comments

Here, as far as we can tell, is a current list of Colombian government officials and congresspeople facing accusations of assisting or associating with paramilitary groups.

Some are under investigation, some are facing accusations from witnesses in formal investigations, and at least one has made admissions to the media. All are members or supporters of the government of President Álvaro Uribe.

This list is not authoritative; it is what we’ve come up with after a thorough read of Colombia’s press during the past few weeks.

  • Senator Álvaro Araújo of Cesar department, brother of Foreign Minister María Consuelo Araújo.
  • Senator Álvaro García of Sucre department.
  • Senator Jairo Merlano of Sucre department.
  • Senator Mauricio Pimiento of Cesar department.
  • Senator Dieb Maloof of Magdalena department.
  • Senator Luis Eduardo Vives of Magdalena department.
  • Senator David Char Navas of Atlántico department.

    • Representative Jorge Luis Caballero of Magdalena department.
  • Representative Alfonso Campo of Magdalena department.
  • Representative Erik Morris of Sucre department.
  • Representative Zulema Jattin of Córdoba department.
  • Representative Salomón Saade of Magdalena department.
  • Representative Lidio García of Bolívar department.
  • Senator Miguel de la Espriella of Córdoba department, a member of Colombia Democrática, a small pro-Uribe political party headed by the president’s cousin, Mario Uribe. De la Espriella says he is one of 40 politicians who held a secret meeting with paramilitary leaders in 2001.

    • Former Representative Jorge Castro.
  • Former Representative José Gamarra.
  • Former Representative Muriel Benito Rebollo of Sucre department.
  • Former Senator Vicente Blel of Bolívar department.
  • Jorge Noguera, director of the presidential intelligence service, the Administrative Security Department (DAS), later the Uribe government’s consul in Milan, Italy.
  • Rafael García, former DAS director of information services, who has since become a star witness against other officials.
  • Salvador Arana, former governor of Sucre department and the Uribe government’s former ambassador to Chile.
  • Trino Luna, governor of Magdalena department.

    • Luis Carlos Ordosgoitia, director of the National Concessions Institute (INCO) in the Ministry of Transportation, former representative from Córdoba.
  • Jorge Luis Alfonso López, mayor of Magangué, Bolivar. López’s mother, Enilce López (“La Gata” or “The Cat”), who dominated lotteries and other gambling along Colombia’s north coast, is currently in custody for assisting paramilitaries. President Uribe has admitted receiving a donation of about $40,000 from “La Gata” for his 2002 campaign.
  • José David González, councilmember of Sincelejo, Sucre.

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One Response to “Para-politics scandal update”

  1. jcg Says:
    November 30th, 2006 at 9:07 pm

    That’s a pretty comprehensive list indeed.

    All I can say is that those guilty of actual wrongdoings due to their paramilitary connections should suffer the full weight of their judicial and moral responsibilities.

    Those that aren’t, but are still responsible for acts of indifference or tolerance, should however still face the consequences of their moral and political responsibilities, and hopefully even some accountability.

    That’s merely the general principle, of course.

    In reality, I’m sure that some will avoid the controversy, others will get off lightly, and perhaps even a couple of innocents (relatively or absolutely speaking) will get caught in the scandal.

    Those that will actually get what they deserve probably won’t be too many of them, I suppose, but hopefully some of the worst do get caught.

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