The Washington Post has falsely claimed that U.S. security aid was used in illegal wiretapping by Colombia’s intelligence agency DAS, said the U.S. Embassy in Bogota Monday.
“[The United States government] has not participated in any way in such violations or had information about it,” a U.S. Embassy statement said.
According to the embassy, when it learned of the illegal surveillance of journalists, Supreme Court judges, opposition politicians, and members of NGOs, it immediately requested that the Colombian Prosecutor General’s Office investigate.
“The U.S. has repeatedly stated that the alleged illegal wiretapping by the Department of Administrative Security (DAS) are unacceptable,” the embassy statement said.
“The U.S. government has no knowledge that any equipment provided by the U.S. has been misused in Colombia,” newspaper El Colombiano quoted a U.S. State Department spokesman as saying.
Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzon requested Monday that the United States verify whether or not the claims of The Washington Post were true.
The Washington Post reported Sunday that United States money, equipment and training were supplied to the Colombian intelligence agency DAS to carry out the illegal wiretapping and smear campaigns against opponents of the administration of former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
The American newspaper claimed that its allegations were supported by “law enforcement documents obtained by The Washington Post and interviews with prosecutors and former Colombian intelligence officials.”
Uribe, who is currently under investigation for his involvement in the wiretapping scandal, denied that U.S. funds were used for any illegal activity. According to Uribe, The Washington Post “manipulates facts and distort reality.”