Colombian Congress weakened by paramilitary scandal

[Judi Lynn]

Colombian Congress weakened by paramilitary scandal
Tue May 6, 2008 2:27pm EDT
By Hugh Bronstein

BOGOTA, May 6 (Reuters) - Colombia's Congress is in crisis as scores of lawmakers are investigated for suspected collusion with right-wing death squads in a scandal creeping closer to conservative President Alvaro Uribe.

More than 60 of the country's 268 legislators are under investigation for suspected illegal dealings with drug-running paramilitaries organized as private militias in the 1980s to help landowners beat back Marxist guerrillas.

About 30 lawmakers are in prison awaiting trial and the accusations include using paramilitary thugs to intimidate voters into supporting their candidacies.

More investigations are expected, heightening worries that Congress is headed toward paralysis.
(snip)

"You have to ask what has happened to allow people to commit crimes while hiding behind the faith that voters have put in the president," said Luis Carlos Restrepo, Colombia's peace commissioner and a close ally of the president.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/americasCrisis/idUSN06493694



Luis Carlos Restrepo
hanging on his master's words