Former โParamilitary Commander Retracts Claim of Uribe Involvement inโฃ 2003โค Mayor’s โขMurder
Bogotรก, Colombia – Salvatore Mancuso, a former commander of the Unitedโ Self-Defense Forces of Colombia โ(AUC),โ hasโค retracted previous statementsโ suggesting formerโ Colombian President รlvaro Uribe Vรฉlez had โคany involvement in โฃthe 2003 assassination of Eudaldo โDรญaz, the mayor of El โคRoble, Sucre. Theโ retraction, submitted as part of โคthe ongoing โtransitional justice process, throws a โฃwrench into investigations linking โUribe toโ paramilitary groups and their actions during the country’s decades-long conflict.
The reversal โis significant as it directly contradicts earlier testimonies that fueled accusations โคagainst Uribe, who hasโข consistently denied anyโค ties to the AUC. The case centers on the murder of Dรญaz, a vocal critic of paramilitary activity in the region. โคThe Prosecutor’s Office has scheduled a โdecember 4th reviewโ to determine ifโ Mancuso’s offer meets legal requirements for restorative justiceโ and adequately โaddresses the harm caused by the crime.This growth could โฃimpact ongoing legal proceedings and the broader narrative surrounding Uribe’s legacyโค and alleged connections to illegal armedโ groups.
In a written statement, Mancuso explicitly declared, “I am not aware that Dr. รlvaro Uribeโ Vรฉlez had participatedโ in the regrettable โcriminal action perpetrated by the AUC that ended the life ofโ Mr. Eudaldo Leรณn Dรญaz, former โmayor of El Roble.” He further emphasized his commitment โฃto contributingโ to the judicial process “within the limits of the law,” โคwhile โreiterating his lack of โฃknowledge regarding any “direct or indirect participation of former โPresident Uribeโค Vรฉlez in criminal actsโ related to the complaint at hand.”
Mancuso’s retraction comes as he participates in Colombia’sโฃ transitionalโค justice system asโ a “peace manager,” a role intended to facilitate truthโ and reconciliation efforts. The Prosecutor’s Office will now assess weather Mancuso’s submission constitutes a sufficient contribution to the truth and offers adequate reparations to the โvictims and their โfamilies. The outcome of this evaluation will determine the next steps in theโ legal processโ and potentially influence future investigations into Uribe’s alleged links to paramilitary groups.
