Two Colombian congressmen were arrested Monday for their alleged ties to paramilitary groups.
Senator for Partido de la U, Zulema Jattin and Caldas House of Representatives congressman Jairo Alberto Llano Gómez were both arrested under the charge of conspiracy to commit an aggravated crime.
Investiagtions into Jattin, began two years ago after her name was discovered in the computer of extradited paramilitary leader Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, alias ‘Jorge 40’ and also in a statement by AUC paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso.
Jattin was chairman of the House of Representatives from 2204 to 2005. In 2006 she was elected as a senator for the Partido de la U.
Llano has been under investigation by the High Court of Justice for his alleged links with the Bloque Cacique Pipintá of
the AUC.
Three paramilitray leaders from the Central Bolivar front claim that they worked with the parliamentarian in Villamaria, when he was mayor of the city. They allege that he provided them with arms and resources.
Jattin
was abducted by paramilitaries for 20 days in the department of Cordoba
in 2002. At the time she was president of the Peace Committee of the House of
Representatives and was leading a bill in favor of humanitarian exchange.
Six months
after her release, she received an invitation to meet with her captors, which she flatly refused to attend saying, “it is my
decision not to have any dealings with those who kidnapped me”.
AUC paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso later alleged that Jattin had received support from paramilitaries.
The Supreme Court is currently investigating more than 50 congressmen for their links to paramilitary groups.