Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has asked his successor, Juan Manuel Santos, to “do something” about the “political persecution” of his allies.
In an open letter published on Twitter, Uribe cited the case of former Uribe administration official Luis Carlos Restrepo, who is being criminally charged for his involvement in the “false demobilization” scandal.
Former peace commissioner Restrepo, who served during Uribe’s 2002-2010 presidency, is accused of conspiring with a guerrilla and a drug lord to stage the demobilization of a non-existent FARC front.
Uribe went on to blame Interior Minister German Vargas Lleras for changing the tone of the Prosecutor General’s office into one of “mean spirited politics”. He also directly addressed Prosecutor General Viviane Morales, saying, “You have no right, stop abusing us.”
The rift between Santos and Uribe, once close allies, has grown wider and more personal in the last six months. Uribe has labelled Santos a “hypocrite” who is “hostile” to his policies.
Friday’s letter, which marks the first time Uribe has directly addressed Santos, is not the first time the ex-president has criticized the persecution of him and his former functionaries.
He has called the investigation into his role into illegal wiretapping by the DAS, Colombia’s drug agency, “criminal vengeance” — and called his jailed former chief of staff a “political prisoner.”