'El Aleman' charged with Cordoba's kidnapping . (Piedad Cordoba is a Colombian senator)

[Judi Lynn]

'El Aleman' charged with Cordoba's kidnapping .
Monday, 09 August 2010 14:46 Kirsten Begg

http://colombiareports.com.nyud.net:8090/pics/paramilitary/freddy_rendon.jpg

Colombia's Prosecutor General charged demobilized paramilitary leader Freddy Rendon, alias "El Aleman" with the 1999 kidnapping of Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba.

The prosecution alleges that El Aleman, who led the Elmer Cardenas Bloc of paramilitary organization the AUC, orchestrated Cordoba's kidnapping on May 21, 1999, from the wealthy Medellin suburb of El Poblado.

El Aleman, who is already in jail serving time for crimes he committed as a paramilitary leader, will called to appear before a judge on the charge aggravated extortionist kidnapping.

In the meantime he will remain in the Itagui maximum security prison, located south of Medellin.

Cordoba was in AUC captivity for several weeks before she was released. The "Colombians for Peace" leader fled to Canada with her family but returned in 2000, leaving her family in Canada, after she was advised that the security situation had improved.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/11253-el-aleman-charged-with-cordobas-kidnapping.html

(At least one of her bodyguards has been shot to death during attacks on Senator Cordoba)

[rabs]

1. Despite all the death threats, Piedad is still around

and these days she has been in Cuba. On Thursday, she met with Fidel.

Tomorrow (Sunday) she has another session scheduled with Fidel.

Meantime, back in Colombia, railroad cars of scorn are being dumped on her by the rightwing media for meeting with El Comandante.

[Judi Lynn]

2. That lady has a lot of courage. Don't know how she does it, knowing the right-wingers despise her!

Nothing but admiration for someone who has that many right-wing ghouls plotting against her 24/7, and keeps right on ticking them off, never surrenders.

Best wishes for her continued health and safety.

Great photo! What a life this very cool woman has had. She has them foaming at the mouth to rip her face off.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Cordoba claims peace negotiations are constitutional right .

Cordoba claims peace negotiations are constitutional right .
Saturday, 14 August 2010 10:39 Adriaan Alsema

http://colombiareports.com.nyud.net:8090/pics/politics/piedad_cordoba.jpg

Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba claims the government can't prohibit her to seek a political solution to Colombia's violent conflict between the State and leftist guerrillas.

On Friday, President Juan Manuel Santos said the government would not allow any mediation efforts without authoritization by Bogota.

However, Cordoba says her efforts to establish a dialogue are supported by article 22 of Colombia's constitution, which states that "peace is a right and a duty whose compliance is mandatory."

Cordoba, who is visiting former Cuban president Fidel Castro, said on Twitter "there is no authority to convince us not to abandon the war. Our hope is peace and I will continue without rest."

The Liberal Party senator is chairman of Colombians for Peace, an organization of prominent dissidents who want the government and the FARC to find a political solution for the country's 45-year long violent conflict.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/11341-cordoba-claims-peace-negotiations-are-constitutional-right.html