Democratic Center asks precautionary measures for Santiago Uribe
Lawyers political party moved to Washington to appear before the Commission.
The battle between former President Alvaro Uribe and his party, the Democratic Centre, with the prosecution and the government now moved to Washington and before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH).
Wednesday, lawyers for the Democratic Center filed a request for precautionary measures for Santiago Uribe, brother of former President Alvaro Uribe, claiming he is the victim of political persecution and their rights to due process. (See also: US Attorney searches new testimony if Santiago Uribe..)
According to Victor Mosquera, who represents people close to the CD in several proceedings before the Commission, Uribe's arrest last week was an "arbitrary act" of the prosecution that also violates their physical and psychological integrity.
"It was an urgent case, as there is a risk to his personal integrity, his life and his family. In law this is called unreasonable time. Santiago Uribe has spent 20 years asking that he resolved his legal situation, going to all the requirements of justice and now deprived of their liberty arbitrarily, "Mosquera said.
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According to counsel, the request what you want is to allow Uribe to defend the charges, but released.
The lawyer also confirmed that the former presidential candidate Óscar Iván Zuluaga will meet Thursday with members of the Commission in Washington to supplement information related to your personal case and to expand the evidence to take the case of the brother of former President.
Uribe was arrested on 29 February as part of a process of investigation being conducted by the Prosecutor on forming paramilitary groups in Antioquia. Several witnesses have argued that the brother of former President was behind the creation of the group The 12 Apostles', a paramilitary organization that is attributed multiple murders.
Although the process began in 1995, the case has not advanced the prosecution accused defined if the process or file charges against him.
Zuluaga, who also requested precautionary measures before the IACHR, has become part of the research process that later the prosecutor for the case of hacker Andres Sepulveda, who worked in his presidential campaign and was accused of intercepted communications negotiating team government in the peace process in Havana and other crimes.
According to Mosquera, Zuluaga is in Washington for the sole purpose of meeting with the Commission and will continue to respond to the Colombian justice system.
Moreover, Mosquera said that to date there are five precautionary measures requested on behalf of CD members and 16 other processes as cases settled before this hemispheric body, all related to political persecution. Regarding the precautionary measures, the lawyer said he expects to be resolved in April, especially those called to the former Minister Sabas Pretelt and former presidential adviser Alberto Velazquez, both over 65 and seeking to be released.
"Governments are always going to deny that there is political persecution. What we have done over the last year is to present the evidence to international organizations which shows that there is a systematic persecution of the opposition, "said the lawyer.
The precautionary measures of the IACHR usually granted when a number of criteria, among them that it be urgent, because it is about to be committed irreparable damage are met. While the agency receives thousands of such requests a year are counted which grants and many are rejected or asked the parties more information.
In the event of a rejection the Commission informs the petitioner, but does not disclose its decision.
In recent times, the most talked was that granted in the case of former mayor Gustavo Petro as he was about to be dismissed, in which it was concluded that political rights would be violated, causing irreparable damage.
