The Washington Post published a letter from Colombia’s ambassador to the U.S. Carolina Barco, expressing concern over an article printed by the North American newspaper, in which former major Juan Carlos Meneses alleges that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe’s younger brother Santiago Uribe, led a paramilitary death squad in the early 1990s.
In the article Barco criticizes the Post for failing to mention that “Meneses was removed from the police force after a series of investigations into alleged illegal conduct by him… and that Meneses stands accused of being the liaison on behalf of a major criminal organization in Colombia in its attempt to bribe a colonel in the Colombian military.”
Barco also criticizes The Post’s “prominent display” of what she calls “unsubstantiated allegations, with an incendiary headline,” which the ambassador claims “unfairly tarnished reputations and the solid track record of the Colombian government.”
Barco stresses that allegations against Santiago Uribe have been “fully investigated” and “dropped” by both Colombian congress and the court.
The ambassador sent the letter to U.S. publication last week
Santiago Uribe has denied the allegations, which according to Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva, are part of a Venezuelan plot to undermine Colombia’s government. President Alvaro Uribe said he believes The Post has been “penetrated by criminals.”