Colombia’s Prosecutor General’s Office announced Tuesday it will order some 40 politicians from the northwest of the country to respond to accusations that they had ties to the local paramilitary death squad.
The politicians, all from the departments of Antioquia and Cordoba, will have to explain their participation in a political project led by local paramilitary commander Freddy Rendon, alias “El Aleman.”
The project “For a Peaceful, United and Great Urabá” sought to unite forces of El Aleman’s paramilitary “Bloque Elmer Cardenas” and local politicians.
Some 25 politicians were arrested in March 2010 for their alliance with the group held responsible for at least 110 crimes against humanity in the Uraba region.
One congressman was convicted for his involvement in the project on June 1.
The Prosecutor General’s Office did not rule out issuing more arrest warrants against the investigated politicians.
According to recent announcements by the Prosecutor General’s Office, 943 Colombian politicians have been linked to the the officially demobilized AUC, the country’s paramilitary umbrella organization determined to be a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and Europe.