Salvatore Mancuso, extradited leader of the paramilitary United
Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), is willing to say the names of
politicians and businessmen who benefited from the AUC, the
spokesperson of Colombians for Peace said.
Mancuso — currently on trial in Washington for drug related crimes — Friday had a five-hour meeting with Piedad Cordoba, the opposition Senator who also is chairman of social activist group ‘Colombians for Peace’.
According to Ivan Cepeda, spokesperson of ‘Colombians for Peace’, Mancuso showed his willingness to continue collaborating with Colombian justice to allow victims of his AUC to seek reparation.
“It was a visit to learn what the conditions the detained are now in and to see if they are willing to confess all their crimes to begin a process of victim reparation,” Cepeda told Caracol Radio, adding that Mancuso will also give the names of “high-level politicians involved in their crimes.”
Cordoba said Mancuso already confessed most his crimes to U.S. prosecutors and that of the U.S. and Colombia can find agreement on judicial cooperation, these statements can be transferred to Colombian prosecutors in charge of investigating paramilitary crimes and the ties between the AUC and politicians.
Mancuso led the demobilization of the AUC in 2006 and 2007. His organization is suspected of tens of thousands of crimes against humanity, including thousands of murders, rape and forced displacement.