Relatives of 31 Colombian detainees say they are not paramilitaries

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http://english.eluniversal.com/2009/01/29/en_pol_art_relatives-of-31-colo_29A2210043.shtml


Relatives of 31 Colombian detainees say they are not paramilitaries
Last Wednesday, Venezuelan Vice-President Ramón Carrizalez reported on the capture of 27 men and four women in Petare, a Caracas barrio
Politics
The relatives of 31 Colombian citizens who were arrested in Venezuela, accused of being members of paramilitary groups, asked on Thursday for the Colombian government involvement.

In an interview with the local media, they claimed that the detainees were not guilty.

José Terán said that the Colombian suspects headed for Venezuela in early January looking for a job, DPA reported.

According to him, they were to work as watchmen and ice cream vendors.

He said that the residents of Aguada de Pablo were getting ready for a protest to request the Colombian government's help in order to release the people held in Venezuela.

Last Wednesday, Venezuelan Vice-President Ramón Carrizalez reported on the capture of 27 men and four women in Petare, a Caracas barrio. However, he did not say when the action was taken.

Carrizales said that the presumed paramilitaries were detained within the framework of an investigation "that has been conducted for a long time" by the government of President Hugo Chávez.