Colombia: Minister´s
Ousting Demanded
BOGOTA - Main
Colombian opposition
parties demanded on
Friday the resignation
of Interior and Justice
Minister Fabio Valencia
Cossio for his brother's
links with drug
trafficking and
paramilitary forces.
Spokeswoman for the
Liberal Party, Sen.
Cecilia Lopez, said the
minister is in a very
uncomfortable situation
because of the scandal
involving his brother
Guillermo.
Sen. Gustavo Petro, from
PDA (Alternative
Democratic Pole), said
the minister has been
ethically disqualified
for his job.
As requested by PDA,
Fabio Valencia is
expected to appear
before the House First
Committee on Wednesday
to establish if he was
aware of his brother's
links with main
paramilitary and drug
trafficking leaders.
In remarks to journalist
on Tuesday, Valencia
said would not resign,
as criminal
responsibility is
individual and he cannot
be held responsible for
what other people do,
even if they are family.
Guillermo Valencia was
director of the district
attorney's office of
Medellin until Thursday,
when he publicly
resigned his post.
On August 5 it became
public that he was under
investigation for his
links with notorious
drug trafficker Daniel
Rendon, alias Don Mario,
and his brother, alias
El Aleman, a main former
paramilitary commander.
Many people wonder how
he managed to continue
in his post for so many
days under such an
investigation.
Guillermo Valencia
insisted on his
innocence, but his
situation became
unsustainable yesterday,
when Cambio magazine
released eight telephone
recordings as clear
evidence of his links
with the criminals.
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