Colombia’s Liberal Party suspended a politician Thursday arrested for alleged complicity in his own kidnapping and that of other politicians who were subsequently assassinated., reported local media.
The announcement was made by Liberal Party leader Simon Gaviria who said Lopez’s “immediate suspension” was necessary while an investigation ongoing.
Lopez, who unsuccessfully ran for Cali mayor last year, was the only survivor of 12 deputies of Valle del Cauca department kidnapped in 2002 by the FARC. The other 11 were assassassinated by the rebels five years later. Lopez was not released until 2009.
The allegations of Lopez’s involvement first emerged after testimony by demobilized guerrilla “El Cabezon” in 2007, who alleged that the suspended politician actively assisted the FARC’s 30th Front.
Last year, Lopez’s mayoral campaign team suggested that the demobilized guerrilla had only made the allegations in order to secure freedom and political asylum in Europe.
According to daily El Espectador, on the day of his release in February 2009 Lopez addressed the children of his assassinated colleagues, saying, “They did not deserve to die like this […] They died like heroes.”
Lopez was taken to Bogota for police questioning Wednesday.