Sicariato in Canada iban a matar en Canadá a Pitirr

Medellin Traveler says on Apr 26, 11:45:

Colombian Witness Told Of Death Plot

BOGOTA, Colombia
The Colombian attorney general's office confirmed Friday that it had uncovered the plot to kill a key witness whose testimony has linked several law makers, including Mario Uribe, the cousin of President Alvaro Uribe, to death squads.

Authorities last week warned Jairo Casillo, 40, a former member of an ultra-right paramilitary group, who now lives in Canada, that investigators had determined two hitmen posing as tourists would try to kill him.

"I fear for my life," Castillo said by telephone. "I know all about the network they use for murdering people."

Medellin Es Una Chimba! - www.medellintraveler.com

CatGirl says on Apr 26, 19:38:

...and what is this network?

Medellin Traveler says on Apr 26, 21:11:

..... SICARIOS!

Plot to Kill Colombian Witness Exposed

By Juan Forero
Washington Post

BOGOTA, Colombia, April 25 -- The Colombian attorney general's office confirmed Friday that it had uncovered a plot to assassinate a key witness whose testimony has linked several Colombian congressmen, including President Ã?lvaro Uribe's cousin, to death squads.

Authorities on Monday warned Jairo Castillo, 40, a former member of an ultra-right paramilitary group who now lives in Canada, that investigators had determined that two hit men posing as tourists would try to kill him. The attorney general's office then faxed him a warning Tuesday, and Castillo reported the threat to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

"I fear for my life," Castillo said by telephone from Canada, saying he believed that those he has testified against, members of the death squads, want him dead. "I know all about the network they use for murdering people," he said.

Police officials in Canada did not return phone calls seeking comment. Officials in the attorney general's office in Bogota confirmed that authorities learned of the plot against Castillo through an analysis of intelligence. José Gilberto Martínez of the witness protection program then alerted Castillo, who lives in Quebec province and has been granted political asylum in Canada.

The plot was uncovered the same week that the attorney general's office arrested former senator Mario Uribe, a political ally of the president. Castillo had accused the politician of having participated in meetings with paramilitary groups in which land grabs were orchestrated.

Castillo, in an interview with The Washington Post last April, said Mario Uribe was "a strong collaborator of the paramilitaries' " who wanted the groups' commanders to pressure people to sell him land at low prices.

Mario Uribe, who has been in jail in Bogota since the Costa Rican Embassy denied his request for political asylum Tuesday, could not be reached for comment. But last year he said, "I have nothing to do with paramilitary activities."

The president's cousin is among more than 60 members of Colombia's Congress who have been arrested or are under investigation for ties with the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia. Prosecutors say Castillo's testimony helped build cases against several lawmakers.

Until a long disarmament of its fighters ended in 2006, the AUC, as the group was known, collaborated with corrupt politicians and army units to kill leftist guerrillas and their supporters. The group also assassinated leftist politicians, human rights activists and journalists, while infiltrating and sacking state institutions across northern Colombia.

As part of special judicial proceedings against former commanders, Colombian investigators have uncovered intimate details about the close links lawmakers had with paramilitary commanders. The attorney general's office and Supreme Court, which are carrying out the investigations, have found important witnesses, such as Castillo, from within the paramilitary movement.

Those witnesses are considered targets for assassins.

"For these mafias, no one is outside their reach when the goal is to protect their interests," said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director for Human Rights Watch.

Castillo, who lives with his wife and family, said he has settled into a comfortable life in Canada, working as a machinist about an hour away from his home. But he said he fears that his past testimony, particularly the details he gave investigators about Mario Uribe, continue to make him a target.

"The whole state is against me," he said. "I've done a lot of damage, talking about politicians and paramilitary groups."

Medellin Es Una Chimba! - www.medellintraveler.com

CatGirl says on Apr 26, 21:50:

Hmmmmm....very interesting. Thank you for the clarification. Hmmmm.

Sam Salmon says on Apr 26, 22:55:

It's a load of pendejada no one is going to murder anyone in Canada-this isn't the USA.

First off these phantom sicarios are going to have to enter Canada and buy guns-again this isn't the USA-where are they going to buy them?

And can they speak the language-Montreal ain't the Bronx-although most of the people here don't know it.

Ignorant shit like this pisses me off to no end.

' a la orden!'

Medellin Traveler says on Apr 27, 05:18:

So you're denying the statements of the Colombian Attorney General's office?

I can't believe you actually doubt such a simple task could be pulled off, especially by Colombians who are trained to KILL, hired by powerful Colombians who have too much to lose.

Medellin Es Una Chimba! - www.medellintraveler.com

CatGirl says on Apr 27, 10:10:

Actually...I will not comment on this post and it's truth. But, my ex was a gun dealer. You can purchase parts and assemble later. That's reality.

hongo_joe says on Apr 27, 10:50:

It doesn't require a gun to kill someone.

But I doubt if it would be very difficult to buy a gun in Montreal, particularly if you just happened to know someone in the drug business...

Medellin Traveler says on Apr 27, 11:28:

Colombian witness appeals to RCMP

MONTREAL - Colombia's witness-protection agency has warned a former paramilitary turned state witness that two assassins posing as tourists plan to travel to his new home in Canada to kill him.

Jairo Castillo Peralta has been living at an undisclosed location in Quebec since being granted political asylum in 2002. Turned informant on members of a paramilitary group he joined in his home state of Antioquia, his testimony has already helped put several members of congress in jail. This week, Mario Uribe, a former senator who is a cousin and close ally of President Alvaro Uribe, was arrested for alleged ties to paramilitary death squads after being implicated by Mr. Castillo.

In a letter faxed to Mr. Castillo on Tuesday, the head of the national government's witness-protection branch in Bogota warned him to take precautions.

"I want to let you know that this office has learned, through intelligence sources, that there are two people who plan to travel to that country posing as tourists, who intend to make an attempt on your life," the letter said.

It advised him to contact Canadian authorities "so that they can take the necessary security measures."

Mr. Castillo, 40, told the National Post yesterday that he had let his guard down after six years in Canada, but now he fears for his life.

"I am less fearful than in Colombia, but I'm still scared, because we're dealing with a dirty state that is capable of killing anyone," he said of his native country. "I had got used to the peace and quiet."

He said he is waiting to hear what kind of protection the RCMP can offer. "I feel alone, without any government support. Because in a country like Colombia, it's common that someone who testifies in favour of the government doesn't even see the light of day. Now who is going to protect me, if they're sending people to assassinate me in Canada?"

Mr. Castillo has been trying to build a new life here with his wife and six children, but his past has followed him. He has continued to work with Colombian authorities investigating connections between lawmakers, landowners and violent right-wing paramilitary organizations in Antioquia, which is also the home state of the President.

He has said he was forced to join a local paramilitary group in 1995, serving as a chauffeur and bodyguard. He earlier described Mario Uribe as "a strong collaborator of the paramilitaries" and said he was present at two meetings between the senator and paramilitary groups, during which they talked of ways to grab land from private landowners.

His revelations about Mr. Uribe and others have helped propel an inquiry in Colombia that has led to the arrest of 32 members of congress for ties to paramilitary groups. The groups, formed initially to counter leftist guerillas, are accused of killing thousands of civilians and trafficking cocaine.

Mr. Castillo said the threat will not stop him from aiding Colombian investigators.

"Until the Canadian government tells me to stop testifying, I'll keep co-operating with authorities, because it's a personal mission of mine," he said. "I'm doing it for the future of my children, of other young Colombians who deserve to live in a proper country, like Canada."

An RCMP spokeswoman contacted yesterday would neither confirm nor deny that the police force had been approached to protect Mr. Castillo. "If someone is calling the police for help, we do not confirm that, unless there are charges laid, and that is not the case," Corporal Elaine Lavergne said."We cannot confirm anything like that because that would be confirming an investigation."

Chris Williams, a spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency, said he could not comment on specific cases.

"What I can say is that we have laws in place to deny entry to those who pose a risk to the public, and also that we work very closely with our Canadian law enforcement partners, which includes the RCMP, local police forces and CSIS, and we ensure the timely sharing of information for people of concern," he said.

Medellin Es Una Chimba! - www.medellintraveler.com

Man Tequila says on Apr 27, 20:20:

I would suspect buying a gun in Canada to be pretty easy.

pues se me antoja que sus cantares son de una tierra desconocida, y yo le dije si a usted le inspira, saber la tierra de donde soy... con mucho gusto y a mucho honor...

billyb says on Apr 27, 21:43:

If you have the cash, you could even purchase a weapon in the vatican.