Former Colombia president Alvaro Uribe has used Twitter to denounce the investigation alleging he helped start paramilitary groups.
Using a hashtag #VenganzaCriminal, or “Criminal Revenge” in reference to his accusers, the former president of Colombia said Tuesday that “Since last week I [have] denounced an investigation against me due to the slander of imprisoned criminals.”
#VenganzaCriminal:Desde semana pasada denuncié investigación en mi contra por infamias de criminales presos
— Álvaro Uribe Vélez (@AlvaroUribeVel) January 8, 2013
He was responding to the reopening of an investigation against him for allegedly being involved with paramilitary groups while Governor of Antioquia. Two demobilised paramilitaries, whom Uribe has said are being “manipulated,” have testified against him. The evidence was initially excluded from being considered by courts but prosecutors have now had this decision reversed.
On Friday Uribe had tweeted that his lawyer had told him that “a prosecutor delegated to the court revoked a [prohibition] on the testimonies of a cartel of false witnesses.”
#VenganzaCriminal,informa dr JGranados que fiscal delegado ante Corte revocó en mi contra un auto inhibitorio por cartel de testigos falsos
— Álvaro Uribe Vélez (@AlvaroUribeVel) January 5, 2013
Uribe’s lawyer has also publicly denounced the investigation, saying that “with the testimony of two liars they decided to reopen a case without any foundation, motivated by [House Representative Ivan] Cepeda, an opponent of his.”
Cepada collected the testimonies of the paramilitaries and has pushed for the investigation against Uribe to be reopened. One of Uribe’s tweets asked if there should be investigations into “Farcpolitics,” presumably directed at his opponent.
Dozens of members of Uribe-loyal political parties, including close associates and members of his family, have been convicted in the “parapolitics” scandal for alleged links to paramilitary groups.
