Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 10 april 2018
In blow to peace, Colombia jails ex-rebel on U.S. drug warrant

By JOSHUA GOODMAN ship structure — though not
Associated Press Santrich — were indicted in
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) 2006 in the U.S. on charges
— Colombian authorities of running the world’s larg-
arrested a former top rebel est drug cartel.
peace negotiator on a U.S. But the FARC always de-
drug warrant Monday, de- nied direct involvement in
livering a major blow to the the business itself and rebel
country’s already teetering peace negotiators in 2013
attempts to put a half cen- denounced drug traffick-
tury of political violence ing as a “scourge” that has
behind it. “contaminated” the inter-
Seuxis Hernandez, a blind national financial system
rebel ideologue best and generated a global
known by his alias Jesus health crisis.
Santrich, was picked up at Santrich, 51, was one of the
his residence in Bogota on first rebels to bet on peace,
charges that he conspired traveling to Norway’s capi-
with three others to smug- tal in 2012 to kick of nego-
gle several tons of cocaine tiations with Colombia’s
into the U.S. with a whole- government and then par-
sale value of $15 million. In this March 11, 2013 file photo, Jesus Santrich, member of the negotiating team for Colombia’s ticipating in talks that con-
According to an Interpol Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), speaks to journalists at the continuation of tinued the next four years in
notice, Santrich met with peace talks with Colombia’s government in Havana, Cuba. Cuba, where he earned a
cocaine buyers at his resi- Associated Press reputation as being a hard-
dence on Nov. 2, 2017, won’t shake” in signing off the Colombian people de- Martinez said a New York liner.
a day after one of his co- on Santrich’s extradition mand. In this aspect, there grand jury handed down The son of two school
conspirators delivered a in order to safeguard the can’t be any room for toler- an indictment after evalu- teachers, Santrich joined
5-kilogram sample of the peace agreement’s integ- ance or weakness.” ating evidence, including a local youth communist
narcotic to them at a hotel rity. Santrich’s former comrades videos and communica- group as a student and
lobby in Bogota. During the Under terms of the accord in arms accused the gov- tions, that indicated Sant- entered the guerrilla move-
meeting and subsequent aimed at ending Latin ernment of trying to sabo- rich and three other co- ment in his early 20s. He
negotiations, he and his America’s longest-running tage the peace process. conspirators who were also gradually rose through the
co-conspirators allegedly conflict, rebels who lay “This is the worst moment arrested hatched a plan in rebel ranks to eventually
discussed plans for a 10-ton down their weapons and that the peace process has the second half of 2017 to join the central high com-
drug shipment to the U.S., confess their war crimes to gone through,” said the for- smuggle into the U.S. co- mand.
boasting they had access special peace tribunals are mer rebel leader known as caine with a street value of Since the signing of the
to cocaine laboratories to be spared jail time and Ivan Marquez, who served $320 million. peace accord, Santrich
and U.S.-registered planes extradition. But they aren’t as chief negotiator dur- The FARC’s ties to Colom- has lived in a two-story
to produce and move the protected for crimes com- ing the peace talks. “The bia’s flourishing drug under- home in a working-class
drugs inside Colombia, the mitted after the December government has to act to world have always been neighborhood of Bogota.
world’s largest producer of 2016 signing. prevent judicial set-ups like a sore spot for the rebels. Despite being blind, he
the illegal narcotic. “The construction of peace these from spinning out The FARC long funded itself said he spent much of his
President Juan Manuel requires the absolute com- of control and generat- by leveling a “war tax” on time painting, using tacks
Santos confirmed the arrest mitment and respect for ing a great deal of mistrust cocaine moving through placed into a canvas to
in a nationally televised ad- the law and the accords,” among all of the guerrillas.” territory it dominated, and create an outline and
dress, saying that his “hand Santos said. “This is what But Chief Prosecutor Nestor 50 members of its leader- guide his brush. q

Brazil’s Lula presidential bid to be registered on deadline

By MAURICIO SAVARESE “For all these reasons, for legedly trading influence in
Associated Press all his history, Lula remains return for the promise of a
CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — as our candidate for the beachfront apartment.
Jailed former Brazilian Presi- presidency and his candi- The once hugely popular
dent Luiz Inacio Lula da Sil- dacy will be registered on leader strongly denies any
va will register his candida- Aug.15, accordingly with wrongdoing in that case or
cy to return to the country’s the electoral legislation,” in seven other corruption
highest office at the dead- the party statement said. cases that are still pending
line for October’s election, Current legislation allows against him. He contends
his party said Monday. Brazil’s electoral court to he is being politically perse-
The Workers’ Party an- reject da Silva’s candida- cuted to keep him off the
nounced after an eight- cy due to his conviction ballot. About 300 meters
hour meeting that da Silva on corruption and money (300 yards) from da Silva’s
remains its candidate and laundering charges. He cell in the southern Brazilian
will have his bid registered could appeal that rejec- Protestors hold up posters reading in Portuguese “Free Lula” city of Curitiba, more than
on the final filing day, Aug. tion, but his party would during a demonstration in support of Brazil’s former President 1,000 supporters celebrat-
15. It also said the former have only until Sep. 17 to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Lisbon, Monday, April 9, 2018. ed after hearing leaders of
president, who is universally replace him as its candi- Associated Press the Workers’ Party say his
known to Brazilians as Lula, date. Despite his convic- dency, an office he held in his sentence of 12 years presidential candidacy will
is a political prisoner and tion, da Silva leads polls 2003-2010. He still has ap- and one month in prison be registered “under any
victim of “a violent arrest.” on the race for the presi- peals available to contest and the conviction for al- circumstances.”q