Jose Obdulio Gavira, personal advisor to former President Alvaro Uribe, on Thursday responded furiously to leaked diplomatic cables which allege that Colombia’s police chief suspected him of ordering the illegal wiretapping of government opponents.
“What evidence did you have, Naranjo? I noticed this hostile environment, but naively I thought of enemies, not betrayal,” Gaviria Tweeted shortly after Colombian media revealed the content of the cables.
The controversial former presidential advisor said he feels persecuted by the FARC, the media, the police, and the secret service DAS, whom he allegedly instructed to perform the illegal wiretap .
Gaviria called on Colombian media to stop calling him for a response. “I am in Switzerland and [phone calls] are very expensive and I am tightfisted. Twitter is my station.”
The leaked cables reveal that Naranjo told then-U.S. ambassador to Bogota William Brownfield that he personally suspected the former presidential advisor, a cousin of slain drug lord Pablo Escobar, of being involved in the illegal wiretapping of Supreme Court judges, journalists, human rights organizations and politicians.
Gaviria and two other Uribe aides are under criminal investigation for their alleged role in the scandal.
