Former congressman Reginaldo Montes of Cambio Radical defended before
the Supreme Court his signature on the pact of Ralito, an agreement
between politicians and paramilitary organization, AUC saying he had no
other option.
The lawmaker, during the last possibility to defend himself in his ‘parapolitics‘ trial, denied AUC leader Salvatore Mancuso’s words that the pact was discussed, agreed upon and signed voluntarily by all politicians.
The confidential Pact of Ralito, signed in 2001 by 32 politicians, bosses of the AUC and other, sought to “refounding the country” by making an agreement between the far right AUC and mostly right wing politicians.
According to Montes, the pact only served the AUC and he never benefited electorally from the backing of the feared paramilitaries.
The paramilitaries were so intimidating he felt he had little option to say no to the pact, the lawmaker told the Court.
The discovery between the pact between the AUC and politicians was the beginning of the parapolitics scandal. Over sixty Colombian congressmen are under investigation and over thirty are in jail awaiting trial.