An ex governor from northern Colombia who was convicted for the assassination of a local mayor wants to sue his victim’s family for perjury.
The horror seems never to end for the family of Eudaldo Diaz, the slain mayor of El Roble, Sucre who was assassinated at the order of then-governor Salvador Arana in 2003.
After years of constant threats leading up to the kidnapping and the horrendous murder, followed by 10 years of trials to seek justice, the sister and the son of the assassinated mayor are now sued for perjury.
The person suing the victims is former governor Salvador Arana, who was sentenced to 40 years in prison for ordering the assassination of the now-suspects’ father.
Arana is an ex-governor and ambassador to Chile during the administration of former President Alvaro Uribe,
The politician was sentenced by the Supreme Court for 40 years of prison in 2009 for masterminding the Diaz’ murder and maintaining links with paramilitary groups.
Mayor predicted his own assassination
Diaz became widely known in Colombia after he dramatically and on national television begged Uribe to help him in March 2003.
“They are going to kill me, Mr President,” Diaz told the then-president at a Community Council in Sucre.
The mayor was referring to Arana and his accomplices whom he had denounced for corruption and paramilitary ties weeks before. The event was transmitted live on public television.
In spite of the mayor’s passionate plea, Uribe failed to help the mayor who was kidnapped and assassinated just a month later.
Before his death, he reportedly told his family that if anything happens to him, Arana will most surely be the man behind it.
Diaz was proven right years later, when Arena was sentenced to 40 years of prison for ordering the assassination and close ties with paramilitary criminals, most remarkably with Rodrigo Mercado Peluffo, alias “Cadena,” the disappeared AUC commander responsible of several massacres in Sucre.
Victims become suspects
In spite of being convicted for murder, Arana decided to hit back at the family that sent him to jail, reported Noticias Uno. The jailed ex-governor reportedly sued the sister of the mayor, Enriqueta Diaz, for false testimony.
Diaz was called to testify under oath about Arana’s allegation the family had tried to tamper the witnesses who had pointed at the former governor as the mastermind behind the killing.
Diaz was unable to travel to Bogota to appear before the prosecution due to health reasons. In a letter, she reassured that Arena is looking to undermine the ruling of the Supreme Court, which can not be appealed.
Diaz insisted that “she was never a witness against mister Salvador Arana” and she reminded the prosecutor Jose Umbarila that the investigation against ex-governor ended in conviction, and that the case is res judicata.
The prosecutor’s office also contacted the son of the assassinated mayor Juan David Diaz to call him as the witness in the case. Juan David Diaz claims he is being re-victimized.
“After ten years of trials, we managed to get one of those responsible convicted but the nightmare does not end there. Now the victims will have to go back to court, not as claimants of truth, justice and reparation but as defendants. It is unfair.” said the mayor’s son.
Diaz added that for demanding justice for the death of his father he has fallen victim of more than 40 death threats and various assassination attempts since his father was murdered.
Arana is one of dozens of congressmen and governors in prison for ties to the paramilitary organization AUC. Especially in the 2002 and 2006 elections, dozens of senators and house representatives were elected into office due to paramilitary intimidation or financial support.
Sources
- Exgobernador Salvador Arana quiere denunciar a sus víctimas (Radio Uno)
- Salvador Arana arremete contra sus víctimas (El Heraldo)
- El gobernador de la muerte (Semana)