He government of Gustavo Petro appointed 18 of the most feared former paramilitary leaders to act as mediators in peace processes with illegal armed groups in Colombiaaccording to an official resolution released this Tuesday.
The former commanders of these bloodthirsty far-right squads will assume the role of ‘peace managers’ to achieve the disarmament of some groups that continue to operate in the country, according to the announcement by the office of the High Commissioner for Peace.
The list highlights Ramon Maria Isazaconsidered one of the precursors of paramilitarism in Colombia since the 70s, in the midst of the war against the guerrillas. There are also important commanders such as ‘Cuco Vanoy’, ‘Macaco’, ‘Don Berna’, ‘HH’ and ‘Jorge 40’.
(You can read: Health reform: most relevant points of the project being discussed in Congress).
Alias ’Jorge 40′
EL TIEMPO Archive
The 18 former commanders demobilized in 2006, but most were extradited for drug trafficking to the United States by order of the then right-wing president. Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010). “The people who were designated as peace managers expressed their willingness to contribute with their knowledge and experience to the development of peacebuilding activities.“says the resolution.
After returning to Colombia after serving his sentences in the US, The former paramilitaries are responding to justice and the victims, who demand truth and reparation.
(You may be interested in: Chamber has already discussed 36% of the health reform project: this is how the debate progresses).
The government specified that the 18 paramilitaries will assume that role for only six months and that their appointment “It does not modify their legal situation, nor the current security measures, or their freedom regime, nor does it entail judicial benefits.“. Recently, the Government had already announced that it was going to appoint as ‘peace manager’ Salvatore Mancusothe top living paramilitary commander, deported from a US prison in February.
Salvatore Mancuso
Milton Díaz / Portfolio
Petro’s intention is for Mancuso to act as a mediator in an eventual peace process with the Clan del Golfo, the largest cocaine cartel.and in the ongoing negotiations with the Conquering Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevadawhich operate in the north of the country. The opposition criticizes the policy of ‘peace managers’, considering that many do not have the merit to perform that function.
(Continue reading: Low budget execution would be the way out for the Government to honor the fiscal rule).
In the case of Mancuso, they also reject his complaints against former President Uribe in which he links the politician with the founding of the right-wing squads. For a political sector, it is revenge for his extradition.
Petro, who was a guerrilla in his youth and the first leftist in power in Colombia, is also talking with ELN rebels and FARC dissidents who did not sign the peace in 2016.
AFP
