There goes another one! (congressman headed to the big house)

Leading Colombian party chief arrested

25 July 2008

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Police have arrested the head of one of Colombia's main governing parties for alleged ties with far-right paramilitaries.

Local television is showing Friday's arrest of Sen. Carlos Garcia on criminal conspiracy charges.

Garcia's National Unity party holds the most seats in Colombia's Senate and it has been promoting efforts to hold a referendum that would let conservative President Alvaro Uribe run for a third consecutive term.

One-tenth of Colombia's Congress has been jailed since early last year on charges of benefitting from far-right death squads that killed thousands and stole land from tens of thousands of others in consolidating control of large swaths of the country.

Most are allies of President Uribe.

By Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) on Jul 25, 2008, 12:27 in Politics & the war.

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robi666 (Trustee board) says on Jul 25, 2008, 13:16: I was just reading about it on El Tiempo http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/justicia/2008-07-25/capturan-al-presi... Will it ever finish? "I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present." 0 funny, 0 helpful.

Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jul 25, 2008, 13:18: What's the figure Rocio and Mancuso estimated - something like 30-50% of Congress being controlled by paras? Sounds like good job security if you're an investigator/prosecutor. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

quantum says on Jul 25, 2008, 16:15: What are the chances of getting home in one piece tonite if you are the investigator/prosecutor? 0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lcacique says on Jul 27, 2008, 23:46: Most accounts state that Mancuso claimed that over 35% of the congress was controlled by the paramilitary. Hoy se nota en la floresta un ambiente de alegría. ¡Y el rumor de ranchería es mas dulce y sabe a fiesta! 0 funny, 0 helpful.

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