US lawmakers want audit of intelligence assistance to Colombia

[gbscar]

US lawmakers want audit of intelligence assistance to Colombia
Wednesday, 07 September 2011 12:15
Adriaan Alsema

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In a letter, Senator Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) request "a comprehensive accounting of U.S. assistance to the Colombian government's Department of Administrative Security (DAS) during the period of August 7, 2002 to August 7, 2010," covering to the day the period former President Alvaro Uribe was in office.

"Specifically, we request a full accounting of all funds, training, lethal and non-lethal equipment, intelligence- and information-sharing, technical assistance, facilities construction and any other aid provided to the DAS, its officials, its employees or any of its contractors during this period, whether in Colombia, the U.S., or at any other facilities," the Democrats wrote.

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"We are concerned that former president Alvaro Uribe has made public statements claiming the reporters who wrote these articles <in the Washington Post and Colombian media> are terrorist sympathizers (simpatizantes del terrorismo), going so far as to characterize one reporter as a terrorist ally (ocultador del terrorismo), language that increases the level of threat under which journalists work in Colombia. We strongly urge you to make clear to theformer president that such statements are unacceptable and ask that he retract them."

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http://www.colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/18831-us-lawmakers-want-audit-of-us-funds-to-colombia.html