Obama administration sides with Uribe on subpoena

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Posted on Thu, Mar. 31, 2011 09:12 PM
Obama administration sides with Uribe on subpoena
By PETE YOST
Associated Press

The Obama administration urged a federal judge to move cautiously rather than order former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to undergo questioning now about any knowledge of right-wing death squads.

In a court filing Thursday night, the Justice Department said federal courts should respect concerns expressed by the government of Colombia over a subpoena for Uribe to testify in a lawsuit by families of death squad victims.

The families are seeking damages from Alabama-based coal company Drummond for allegedly supporting right-wing death squads.

The Justice Department says a U.S. judge should order lawyers for the families to exhaust other avenues of getting the information they seek before ordering Uribe to be questioned.


Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/03/31/2767025/obama-administration-sides-with.html

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. You'd have to assume from this that the CIA set up the death squads

Why else would Obama be involved?

[EFerrari]

6. We've armed Colombia to the teeth and also have bases there.

Colombia has the biggest mass graves on the continent. The last one was found outside a base where the Colombian army was working a joint mission with US troops.

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Obama or who/what ever tells Obama what to do is doing the same shit

they have done for the last 50 years.

[The Magistrate]

2. This, Ma'am, Is Fucking Bull-Shit

No other term can do.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. I guess that's the last word on this! Case closed!

Pretty God Damn low batting average lately if I must say so Sir

[fascisthunter]

22. Do you believe this is not Credible?

I have no idea what to make of this.

[FLAprogressive]

3. Obama supporting covering up something? nooooo

[EFerrari]

4. Apparently only some atrocities must be brought to justice. n/t

[No Elephants]

10. In court?

[rabs]

8. Uribe is still not completely in the clear

because the federal judge in the Drummond case still will have the last word on Hil/Obama's "suggestion" for immunity -- to accept it or reject it.

The question is whether the judge will dare to rule against hil/obama's protection of uribito.

Recall reading that the United States government normally does not grant immunity to common citizens from other countries when called to testify. uribito is now a common citizen.

[No Elephants]

11. Judge highly likely to tread very lightly.

Not only is Obama THE head of a supposedly co-equal branch of government, but the Constitution gives him responsibility for foreign affairs, subject pretty much only to Senate confirmation of ambassadors and Sec. of State.

Also, President is, at least theoretically subect to the will of the people, while federal judges are insulated from what the public thinks or wants.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

17. He will if he wants

to advance his career. Mass graves? What mass graves?

[Judi Lynn]

27. You'd know, also, if you had taken a moment to do ANY research on Colombia.

We've discussed them at D.U. for years, there are many mass graves all over the country, as well as crematoria, used by the government-connected paramilitaries.

What's keeping you from paying attention, or from seeking information the way so many of us must in order to know something about the subjects we find important?

The last discovered mass grave is La Macarena. The man who brought a committee from Europe to examine it has himself been murdered not long after he brought them to the site. The people in the area had children who were getting very ill, and people started trying to determine what was the cause, only to learn it was SEEPAGE FROM THE PILES OF DEAD BODIES in the pits dug for unidentifed people. Now that is so vile it simply doesn't seem possible, but by god it's a fact NO ONE can deny. It was denied for a long time when the media simply refused to mention it.

From an article published by the Center for International Policy, a reference to an article published by Spain's Publico":

Since 2005 the Army, whose elite units are deployed in the surrounding area, has been depositing behind the local cemetery hundreds of cadavers with the order that they be buried without names. …

Jurist Jairo Ramírez, the secretary of the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Colombia, accompanied a delegation of British legislators to the site several weeks ago, when the magnitude of the La Macarena grave began to be discovered. “What we saw was chilling,” he told Público. “An infinity of bodies, and on the surface hundreds of white wooden plaques with the inscription NN and dates from 2005 until today.”

Ramírez adds: “The Army commander told us that they were guerrillas killed in combat, but the people in the region told us of a multitude of social leaders, campesinos and community human rights defenders who disappeared without a trace.”

More:
http://www.cipcol.org/?p=1303

[Peace Patriot]

25. Was Uribe's request (to Obama/Clinton) for "sovereign immunity" denied?

I have absolutely no Illusions about this matter, as to Obama/Clinton, so I presume that, if they denied his request for "sovereign immunity," they have some other way to get to the judge, to prevent Uribe from having to testify. I believe that CIA Director Leon Panetta (Daddy Bush pal) is also involved in this matter, and that protecting Uribe is vital to covering up Bush Junta crimes (including U.S. military and/or U.S. military 'contractor' crimes) in Colombia during Uribe's reign of terror.

Obama/Clinton may have decided that "sovereign immunity" for Uribe would not sit well with the leftist leaders whom they are trying to cozen (in their "divide and conquer" strategy in Latin America--for instance, Brazil's new president, leftist Dilma Rousseff, who was tortured by Brazil's U.S. supported fascist junta). (Note: Investigation/prosecution for those crimes is, at last, under way in Brazil.) HOWEVER, protecting the Bush Junta is Priority No. 1 with the Obama administration. Agreeing to immunity for Bush Junta criminals is likely "the deal" that Obama made, to restrain the far rightwing controlled Diebold/ES&S 'trade secret' voting machines and put him in the White House. (A deal put to him, I believe, by Daddy Bush, Panetta and other "old CIA" and a consortium of top military brass, and possibly others, who ousted Rumsfeld in late 2006 and curtailed Cheney thereafter, re: Rumsfeld/Cheney's intention to nuke Iran and their war on the CIA. Immunity was their bargaining chip with Cheney/Rumsfeld; they used it and they had to get whoever they all agreed to put in the White House to agree to it.)

Uribe's crimes and what he knows about Bush Junta crimes--and might spill under pressure--could throw a big monkey wrench into the immunity deal, so Uribe had also to be immunized (and is not only immunized but is being coddled and honored by the Obama administration--a thoroughly disgusting spectacle but not surprising as this U.S. administration has unfolded).

Anyway, it would be interesting if they have specifically denied his "sovereign immunity" request. (This concept, "sovereign immunity"--as if Uribe had been king of Colombia--reminds me of other novel concepts like "enemy combatant" in this U.S. era of the Scofflaw government.) A bit too dicey for Obama/Clinton/Panetta, in their other designs in Latin America? Is their 'hint' to the judge enough to shut the judge up? Other pressure being used?

[rabs]

26. The term "sovereign immunity" came from the Colombian government

and more specifically from the GOC ambassador in Washington, Gabriel Silva, who was defense minister under uribe and who was appointed ambassador to D.C. by JuanMa Santos only days before uribito's term expired on Aug. 7 of last year. Don't think the U.S. DOJ or hil's State actully considered the petition to be one of "sovereign" immunity. At least I did not see it if they did.

In response to your queries, found below which is much clearer than the skimpy AP story filed last night. It explains the "scope of immunity" and the "Statement of Interest" issued yesterday by the DOJ.

Tried to get the "Statement of Interest" but link says the pdf file is damaged.

-----------------------

The following is from Terry Collingsworth, the plaintiff’s lawyer in the Drummond case. Here is the original PDF. This is the only statement he will make regarding Uribe’s immunity.


Conrad & Scherer
Attorneys at Law
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida • Washington, DC • Quito, Ecuador


In response to a Statement of Interest (attached) filed March 31, 2011 by the U.S. Department of Justice on the issue of the scope of immunity that should be provided to former President of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, Terry Collingsworth of Conrad & Scherer, LLP, lead counsel for the Plaintiffs in the Drummond case who seek to depose Uribe, issued the following statement:

It is premature to comment extensively on the issue at this time because there has not yet been a decision by the Court. The “Statement of Interest” issued by the U.S. government is merely that, and it remains for the Court to determine the precise contours of any immunity to be extended to Uribe, and the timing and scope of any deposition to be taken of Uribe.


With that said, the Plaintiffs in the Drummond case are encouraged by the Statement of Interest for two reasons. First, the U.S. government is clear that the law does not permit blanket immunity for Uribe as a former head of state.

At most Uribe may be extended immunity for any “official acts” taken as President of Colombia. The law is clear, and the U.S. government’s distinction recognizes, that to the extent that Mr. Uribe directed or encouraged or abetted violations of the law of nations, including war crimes and extrajudicial killings, these illegal acts can never be classified as “official acts. ” Since Plaintiffs’ allege that Uribe did collaborate extensively with the same AUC terrorists who executed their relatives, the details of his relationship with and assistance to the AUC is outside of any possible immunity.

Second, the U.S. government acknowledges that the Plaintiffs likely may be able to obtain some of the evidence they need from other sources in Colombia, and asks the Court to require Plaintiffs to first attempt do so before seeking the evidence from Uribe.

Plaintiffs are hopeful that this means the U.S. government will use its considerable influence with the Colombian government to obtain the cooperation of Colombian officials in allowing Plaintiffs to gather that evidence in Colombia.

The trial Court in the Drummond action has recently issued Letters Rogatory to the Colombian government seeking its cooperation in allowing the depositions of numerous witnesses in Colombia. Whether these depositions occur is largely within the discretion of the current Colombian government.

The Drummond Plaintiffs sincerely hope that the new administration of President Santos provides the cooperation needed to get the facts in this important human rights case. Not only will this assist in getting to the truth, it will also show that Colombia has turned a major page in its bloody history and seeks to demonstrate to the world that it respects the rule of law and can be trusted to keep its international commitments to respect human rights.


####


Established 1974
Rex Conrad 1935-1999 • William Scherer
Conrad & Scherer, LLP • 1156 15th St. NW, Suite 502, Washington, DC 20005
Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]

http://lacolombiainvisible.blogspot.com/2011/04/press-release-on-possible-immunity-for.html

[Peace Patriot]

28. Thank you, rabs! Much appreciated! Interesting language from the death squad victims' lawyers...

"...the U.S. government acknowledges that the Plaintiffs likely may be able to obtain some of the evidence they need from other sources in Colombia, and asks the Court to require Plaintiffs to first attempt do so before seeking the evidence from Uribe.

"Plaintiffs are hopeful that this means the U.S. government will use its considerable influence with the Colombian government to obtain the cooperation of Colombian officials in allowing Plaintiffs to gather that evidence in Colombia.

"The trial Court in the Drummond action has recently issued Letters Rogatory to the Colombian government seeking its cooperation in allowing the depositions of numerous witnesses in Colombia. Whether these depositions occur is largely within the discretion of the current Colombian government.

"The Drummond Plaintiffs sincerely hope that the new administration of President Santos provides the cooperation needed to get the facts in this important human rights case. Not only will this assist in getting to the truth, it will also show that Colombia has turned a major page in its bloody history and seeks to demonstrate to the world that it respects the rule of law and can be trusted to keep its international commitments to respect human rights."

-------

The lawyers are shrewdly playing to the Obama/Clinton goal of "laundering" Colombia for "U.S. free trade for the rich." (Or they are being ironical--possibly both.)

I'm wondering about the death squad witnesses that Obama/Clinton whisked out of Colombia and "buried" in the U.S. federal prison system in 2009--which I presume was to protect Uribe (and thus Bush Junta crimes as well). (Uribe was involved in those extraditions, as was Bushwhack ambassador Wm Brownfield, whom Obama/Clinton left in place in Colombia until he cleaned up certain bloody messes, then made him Asst Sec of State for the Western Hemisphere. AG Eric Holder was also involved, and the U.S. federal court in Washington DC.) Will Obama/Clinton make THOSE witnesses "available"? (Or any? Is this just another song and dance?)

[rabs]

29. You're welcome and "Jorge 40" should be one of the key witnesses

"Jorge 40" back in his paramilitary days, before he "demobilized" in 2005 under an uribe government program to disarm the paramilitaries and who was promptly betrayed by uribe and extradited to the United States on narco-trafficking charges.

"Jorge 40" (Rodrigo Tuvar Pupo) has confessed to killing the two Drummond labor leaders and one can be sure he is most unhappy that uribito whisked him off to a U.S. federal prison where he in theory could not talk about atrocities back in Colombia.

-------------------

I also noticed that last paragraph by Collingsworth. Like you say, shrewdly putting the onus on President JuanMa to clean up the bloody mess uribe left.

It is not happening. Just glance at the Colombian media and it is full everyday of parapolitics, scandals, the FARC is still active, as are the paramilitaries, who are now called BACRIM (criminal gangs) and most recently "bandas emergenetes" (emerging gangs).

http://mikesbogotablog.blogspot.com/2011/02/step-forward-for-alleged-drummond.html

------------------------

Btw, Hugo Chavez and JuanMa Santos were to hold a summit meeting yesterday in Cartagena. It was postponed for one week because Chavez was stuck in Cochabamba, Bolivia after his jet had some sort of problem.

This will be the third summit between the two newly "bestest of friends" since Santos took over last August. It must give uribe fits.

[Judi Lynn]

31. Today Venezuela started sending oil to Colombia, again.

They held a ceremony in the middle of a bridge between the two countries.

Looks like the symbolic meeting in the bridge from each country to the other is meant to be a public message that they will attempt to restore relations which Uribe destroyed, hopefully. We never really know, as we've discovered.

Three meetings in 6 months is nothing to sneeze at, by any means.

[Peace Patriot]

32. Thanks for the reminder about "Jorge 40."

I'm pretty sure that Obama/Clinton protection of Uribe is mainly about two things: a) protecting the Bush Junta (re U.S. crimes in Colombia) and, b) the trillion-plus dollar cocaine revenue stream (to Bush Cartel? CIA? U.S. banksters?).

Filthy business.

[Solly Mack]

9. K&R

[LiberalLovinLug]

12. I'm sure all those death squads learned there trade in the US

So there is most likely pressure to stop the embarrassment. Ah the irony, prosecuting against behavior we instilled in the perps.

School of the Americas
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Terrorism/SOA.html

Countries / Graduates (since 1946)

Argentina / 931
Bolivia / 4,049
Brazil / 355
Chile / 2,405
Colombia / 8,679
Costa Rica / 2,376
Dominican Republic / 2,330
Ecuador / 2,356
El Salvador / 6,776
Guatemala / 1,676
Honduras / 3,691
Nicaragua / 4,693
Panama / 4,235
Paraguay / 1,084
Peru / 3,997
Uruguay / 931
Venezuela / 3,250

Its curriculum includes courses in psychological warfare, counterinsurgency, interrogation techniques, and infantry and commando tactics. Presented with the most sophisticated and up-to-date techniques by the US Army's best instructors, these courses teach military officers and soldiers of Third World countries to subvert the truth, to muzzle union leaders, activist clergy, and journalists, and to make war on their own people. It prepares them to subdue the voices of dissent and to make protesters submit. It instructs them in techniques of marginalizing the poor, the hungry, and the dispossessed. It tells them how to stamp out freedom and terrorize their own citizens. It trains them to destroy the hope of democracy.

A seething swarm of anti-democratic terrorist training right in the heart of what some still call the greatest democracy in the world.

Yeah careful there Obama, just avert your eyes like all the others have before you. Some things are just too important to get with that whole Change thing. Its all about "national interests", which means in the interests of the lobbyists and executives that pay for your campaigns and will be there for you when you are done with this gig.

[Fuddnik]

19. You mean Wesley Clark's old command?

Teaching democracy one body at a time.

[EFerrari]

21. "I refused to wait for images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action."

- March 28

[No Elephants]

13. Well, being a lawyer, Obama...er... Well, the Rule of Law....er...Well, the POTUS is resonsible for

enforcing our laws....er...

Oh, frick it. Is it soup yet?

[indimuse]

14. KNR!

loving the *change*..aren't you?

[Citizen Worker]

15. Let's hear it again, one more time. Hope, change, transparency, blah, blah blah. Just more horse

puckey. When will we ever learn?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

16. I've learned.

I'll never be naive enough to buy the bullshit again.

[Enthusiast]

18. Well......

Obama is an admirer of Reagan.

[frylock]

24. dine on some charbroiled nuns......

[pam4water]

20. WTF

[Zorra]

23. Complicity.? SOA again?

:popcorn:

[Judi Lynn]

30. AUC supported Uribe's 2002 campaign in south Colombia: ex-paramilitary

AUC supported Uribe's 2002 campaign in south Colombia: ex-paramilitary
Saturday, 02 April 2011 10:19
Toni Peters

An extradited AUC commander testified that his paramilitary group supported former president Alvaro Uribe's 2002 presidential campaign in the south of Colombia, El Espectador reported Saturday.

Guillermo Perez Alzate, alias 'Pablo Sevillano' former AUC commander, claimed that he was in constant contact with Salvador Escobar, the presidential campaign manager of then-candidate Uribe in the department of Nariño. In a meeting, it was agreed that Pablo Sevillano's troops would accompany Uribe to rallies in exchange for money for the troops' expenses. He claims that near the end of the campaign, he attended a social gathering at Club Colombia, Pasto, where Escobar thanked him for the service he had offered.

The testimony also gave many details of the relationship with then mayor of Tuquerres, a town in Nariño department, Gloria Bolaños and how she was able to gain popularity among the voters with the support of the paramilitaries. Pablo Sevillano went on to state that he frequently communicated with two other politicians; Congresswoman Miryam Paredes Aguirre and Senator Eduardo Enriquez Maya. He said that he offered security protection to the politicians during a public rally in 2001 which they gratefully accepted.
Pablo Sevillano, former commander of Libertadores del Sur Bloc, gave testimony to the Supreme Court in May 2010. It was taken up again after investigations into the "network of favors" scandal by the National Narcotics Office (DNE). He was extradited to the United States in 2008, where he was convicted for drug trafficking a year later.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/15331-paras-provided-uribe-security-ex-auc-commander.html