Former FARC hostage denies involvement in his own kidnapping

Sigifredo Lopez, a former Colombian politician accused of aiding the FARC in his own kidnapping, asked the prosecution to reexamine the evidence against him.

“There is no shred of evidence that says that [he colloborated with the FARC]. We have all the evidence,” said Alfredo Montenegro, a lawyer representing Lopez.

Lopez is the only survivor of 12 deputies of the Valle del Cauca department who were kidnapped by the guerrilla group in 2002 and assassinated five years later.

Investigators are analyzing a FARC training video which allegedly features Lopez instructing guerrillas on how to carry out abductions.

Lopez denied Thursday’s allegations from the governor of the Nariño department that the politician was supported by the Rastrojos, one of Colombia’s most powerful drug gangs, in his Cali mayoral campaign last year.

The Liberal Party member was suspended by party leader Simon Gaviria Thursday while the investigation is ongoing.

The allegations against Lopez first emerged after testimony by demobilized guerrilla “El Cabezon” in 2007, who claimed that the politician actively assisted the FARC’s 30th Front.

Lopez remains in Bogota for further police questioning.