Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY 1 MAART, 2017

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 1 March 2017

Colombia protests China’s execution of 72-year-old drug mule

before he was taken to a punishments are illegal in attaches importance to
room to be killed by lethal Colombia.But while news the protection of human
injection. of Arciniegas’ death domi- rights and the right of life.
“God has opened his gates nated social media in Co- The legitimate right and
for me,” a calm Arcinie- lombia on Tuesday an on- interest of the individual
gas said in the tear-filled line survey by Blu of almost involved in the case has
conversation, an excerpt 5,000 people showed 52 been guaranteed.”
of which was broadcast percent in agreement with Colombia is the world’s
by Blu Radio. “Remember the harsh punishment. largest producer of co-
me warmly, with love. I’m China is the world’s top caine, a phenomenon that
going very tranquil, very executioner, although it’s since the days of Pablo Es-
relaxed. Nothing worries unclear how many foreign- cobar has generated eye-
me.” Colombia’s govern- ers have been sentenced popping fortunes but also
ment expressed its con- to death in China for drugs afflicted countless num-
dolences to Arciniegas’ or other offenses. A Chi- bers of poor families drawn
Juan Jose Herrera holds a folder with writings of his father Ismael family and reiterated its nese state media report to the drug trade with the
Enrique Arciniegas who was executed in China for drug offens- objection to China’s use of said in 2015 that a dozen promise of easy money.
es, at his home in Cali, Colombia, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. Ar- capital punishment. Since foreign people had been More than 8,500 Colombi-
ciniegas was arrested in 2010 arriving by plane to the southern November, China has re- sentenced to death after ans are being held in jails
port city of Guangzhou trying to smuggle almost 4 kilograms of patriated two convicted being convicted of drug around the world for drug
cocaine in exchange for $5,000. His execution occurred amid a Colombian drug traffickers dealing. Most were from trafficking, including 146 in
last-ditch diplomatic effort by Colombia’s government to save for humanitarian reasons so Japan, South Korea and China, authorities said.
the 72-year-old’s life. Herrera said his family was
(AP Photo/Diego Sinisterra) they could complete their Southeast Asia, the report especially cursed.His father
sentences back home.
said.Chinese law states
JOSHUA GOODMAN Arciniegas was arrested “We fought until the last that anyone convicted of was imprisoned for drug
Associated Press in 2010 arriving by plane minute to save his life,” the smuggling, selling, trans- offenses when he was
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) to the southern port city foreign ministry said in a porting or producing more born, his mother died of
— A retired journalist who of Guangzhou trying to statement, adding that it than 1 kilogram of opium, an overdose when he was
joined the criminal under- smuggle almost 4 kilograms was making arrangements or 50 grams of metham- 2 years old and a brother
world while researching a of cocaine in exchange to repatriate Arciniegas’ phetamine or heroin, or was killed a few years ago
book on South America’s for $5,000. But his downfall ashes to his family in Cali. a large amount of other by unknown assassins in
drug cartels became the came decades earlier, in The execution threatens drugs, could face the Cali, one of the cities that
first Colombian, and possi- the 1980s, when he be- to strain relations between death penalty. is most-ravaged by drug
bly the first Latin American, gan researching a book the two important com- “Chinese judicial authori- trafficking. His uncle, Ar-
to be executed in China for on drug cartels in his native mercial partners because, ties have been crack- ciniegas’ brother, was also
drug offenses. Cali, according to his son, according to Colombian ing down in accordance arrested trying to sneak
The execution Monday Juan Jose Herrera, who officials, there are 15 more with law,” Geng Shuang, drugs into China and died
night of Ismael Arciniegas described to local media people from the South a spokesman for China’s in jail there of a stroke in
occurred amid a last-ditch the heart-breaking, 20-min- American country on foreign ministry, said at 2013.Herrera said his fa-
diplomatic effort by Co- ute phone conversation death row in China and an a briefing Tuesday when ther’s bookish background
lombia’s government to he and family members equal number sentenced asked about Arciniegas’ — he spoke several foreign
save the 72-year-old’s life. had with his father shortly to life imprisonment. Both execution. “China always languages and was an ob-
Part of Rio Carnival float collapses, injuring 12 sessive writer — made him
an attractive drug mule

M. SAVARESE said in a statement that float when the incident tas told journalists. “I don’t to criminals he met in the
1980s while researching a
Associated Press among the 12 injured at the happened. know what is happening, never-published book, to
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The city’s Sambadrome, nine “We heard a burst on the but Rio’s Carnival is not be- be called “Satanic War,”
top of a float collapsed were taken to local hos- top,” he said. “People start- ing blessed this year.” about the damage caused
during Rio de Janeiro’s pitals. Health officials also ed screaming, we didn’t Minutes earlier a smaller Colombia by the drug war.
world famous Carnival pa- said eight people sought understand what it was. It incident happened with Shortly after, he amassed a
rade early Tuesday, injuring medical attention due to was a moment of despair samba school Mocidade small fortune but later saw
at least 12 people, officials stress. for all there.” Independente. A platform his riches and contact with
said. Rio City hall said two peo- Ailton Freitas, a director at detached from their fourth his family all but disappear
The incident involved the ple were in serious condi- Unidos da Tijuca, said their float and dropped a revel- when he was jailed in Co-
second float of the popular tion. One suffered a head floats had been tested re- er to the ground. The sam- lombia.When he traveled
to China in 2010, he had
samba school Unidos da trauma, according to one peatedly before the Carni- ba school said she was not fallen on hard times and
Tijuca, themed around the doctor. val. injured. was trying to rebuild.
Carnival in New Orleans. The parade had to be “We tested three times a On Sunday, a float belong- “They filled him with greed
Revelers cried on the pave- stopped for almost 25 min- week with more weight ing to samba school Para- and led him to make a mis-
ment and in the stands as utes so the injured could than we carried today. iso de Tuiuti crashed and take that cost him his life,”
injured people were re- get medical attention. The When the parade ap- injured at least 20 people, Herrera, who has a tattoo
moved by rescuers. show was allowed to pro- proached we started do- including three seriously. of his father’s face on his
Police were investigating ceed. ing those tests every day. Following that accident, chest, told Blu. “He was
the cause of the accident. Reveler Felix Souza said he We are even more shocked organizers also decided to only a pawn in the game.”
Rio state health secretary was dancing next to the than you all are,” Frei- proceed with the show.q q