Colombia’s war crimes tribunal to press criminal charges...
Colombia jails US citizen on femicide charges
Colombia preparing tropical paradise for tourism after 500...
Hacktivists leak 178,000 documents from Colombia’s military
Colombia’s sentenced for exterminating political party
Colombia’s capital Bogota awarded for failing crime policy
OAS urges Colombia to release people arrested over...
Colombia’s war crimes tribunal hears notorious former warlord
Colombia’s GDP and GNI
Panama arrests US citizen suspected in Colombia of...
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
Fugitive former Senator-elect Aida Merlano (R) (Image: Venezuela's Special Forces)
News

Venezuela arrests fugitive politician wanted in Colombia

by Adriaan Alsema January 28, 2020

Venezuela’s special forces on Monday arrested a fugitive political ally of Colombia’s President Ivan Duque, further complicating the situation between the two neighbors.

Conservative Party senator-elect Aida Merlano broke jail in Bogota last year and was arrested in the city of Maracaibo on Monday, the Venezuelan Interior and Justice Ministry confirmed.

Duque does “the funniest thing” he could do

The arrest created an extraordinary situation because the government of Nicolas Maduro has broken ties with  Duque, who doesn’t recognize his counterpart in Caracas.

Bogota did what political commentator Alejo Vergel called “the funniest thing that could happen this year between these two numbnuts.”

The Justice Ministry announced that it would request Merlano’s extradition with the “legitimate government of Venezuela headed by Juan Guaido,” the chairman of that country’s National Assembly.

Guaido proclaimed himself interim president a year ago, which has been recognized by dozens of countries. Disregarding this, Maduro’s rival has no executive power in Venezuela.

There’s an unprecedented clown show coming up on TV.

Journalist Celso Crespo

Maduro, on the other hand, can expel Merlano if and when he pleases with or without Duque’s resognition.

Now what?

While Merlano is in a Venezuelan jail because she allegedly crossed the border illegally, her arrest further complicates the already complicated situation between the two countries.

Guaido was on an international tour to maintain international support in defiance of a travel ban while Venezuela’s special forces arrested the disgraced Duque ally, essentially breaking the same law as Duque’s political ally.

The Venezuelan opposition leader was allowed back in after he left the country in February last year with the help of Colombian drug trafficking group “Los Rastrojos.”

Whether he is allowed back in as easily this time is uncertain.

Aida Merlanodiplomacytensions with VenezuelaVenezuela

Trending

  • Panama arrests US citizen suspected in Colombia of murdering fiancé

  • Colombia’s capital Bogota awarded for failing crime policy

  • Colombia’s war crimes tribunal hears notorious former warlord

For patrons

Downloads for patrons

Related articles

  • Colombia recalls ambassador from Guatemala over corruption probe fallout

  • Colombia spied on diplomats from Russia and Cuba: report

  • Colombia and Venezuela reopen land border

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Rss

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion