Colombia's ex-leader Alvaro Uribe subpoenaed in U.S. federal court

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Friday, 11.05.10
Colombia's ex-leader Alvaro Uribe subpoenaed in U.S. federal court
.BY JIM WYSS
[e-mail]

Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has been subpoenaed to provide a deposition in a lawsuit against a U.S. coal company that allegedly supported right-wing death squads who killed at least 116 people in that nation.

Uribe is not directly accused of wrong-doing but may shed light on key issues in the case that is being tried in U.S. federal court, said Terry Collingsworth, the plaintiffs' lawyer.

The suit alleges that Alabama-based Drummond worked with the Colombian Army and the United Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC paramilitary group, from 1999-2005 to battle left-wing guerrillas that were threatening its installations there.

Collingsworth represents about 500 plaintiffs who say their family members were killed by the AUC during those operations.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/05/1909558/colombias-ex-leader-alvaro-uribe.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Uribe ordered to testify in Drummond case

Uribe ordered to testify in Drummond case
Thursday, 04 November 2010 09:25 Adriaan Alsema

Colombia's former President Alvaro Uribe on Wednesday was subpoenaed to testify in a civil case against Alabama coal giant Drummond over the company's alleged ties to paramilitary death squads.

A group of 500 Colombian victims of the paramilitary violence demand compensation from Drummond and claim Uribe "has direct knowledge of a number of key cases, including until what point the armed forces supported the paramilitary protection of mining properties of Drummond," Terry Collingsworth, the attorney of victims of the paramilitary organization AUC, told radio station La FM.

The former president "knows the levels of cooperation between the armed forces and the AUC, specifically in regions like Cesar where Drummond was active," the lawyer added.

An anti-Uribe activist at the Washington D.C. Georgetown University threw the subpoena at the feet of Colombia's former president, who is a guest lecturer at the Ivy League university. According to activist Charity Ryerson, "the former president was notified when the document touched his body."

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/12739-uribe-subpoenaed-testify-drummond-case.html

[rabs]

2. Drummond, uribe and the subpoena

U.S. coal giant Drummond has rejected the subpoena served to Colombia's former President Alvaro Uribe, Colombian media reported on Monday.

According to a Drummond press release, "it seems that the improperly served subpoena to President Uribe is simply aiming to generate media attention for the case and harass President Uribe, who knows nothing about the allegations of the lawsuit," media quoted.

The Alabama-based coal company rejected the way an activist served Uribe with the order. "The subpoena was literally thrown at the feet of President Uribe while attending a conference at Georgetown University in Washington D.C."

"Based on the subpoena and the way President Uribe was notified, it seems that the plaintiffs' lawyers expect to support their latest case through media stunts instead of presenting evidence in court," the press release said, adding that the plaintiffs "are seeking to attack President Uribe and the entire government of Colombia for its efforts to end the conflict."

Victims of paramilitary violence in Colombia accuse Drummond of having paid paramilitary organization AUC between 1999 and 2005, during which 116 civilians were killed in the region where the coal company operates. The plaintiffs claim members of Uribe's government tried to suppress evidence of Drummond's alleged backing of the illegal militias.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/12787-drummond-rejects-subpoena-uribe.html

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Related article today in El Espectador of Bogota:

Former AUC paramilitary leader "Jorge 40" has admitted responsibility in the assassination of two labor leaders who worked for Drummond's coal-mining operation in Colombia as part of a plea agreement. Jorge 40 is currently in prison in the United States after his extradition in 2008 on drug-trafficking and money laundering charges.

A Colombian human rights NGO that represents Jorge 40 said the plan to execute the two labor leaders also implicated Gary Drummond, president of the company and Jean Jakim, chief of security.

El Espectador article in Spanish:

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/judicial/articulo-234306-jorge-40-admite-responsabilidad-asesinato-de-sindicalistas

[Judi Lynn]

3. Very interesting information. First time I've heard anyone like the president of Drummond named,

and it's wonderful.

Will be looking at these links again in the morning. It's cool seeing El Espectador carried this. I need to look at it more closely.

Thanks very much.