Protected status withdrawn from key Palace of Justice siege witness

[Judi Lynn]

Protected status withdrawn from key Palace of Justice siege witness
Thursday, 01 December 2011 13:30
Aylish O'Driscoll

The Colombian government has announced legal measures that could force a key witness in the Palace of Justice 1985 siege case to testify. Interior Minister German Vargas Lleras announced Thursday he would withdraw the protected status granted to a key witness in the case agaist five soldiers on trial for their role in the siege, according to newspaper El Espectador.

It means the witness, Edgar Villimizar, who had successfully argued his life would be in danger if he took to the stand, could now be subpoenaed to appear.

More than 100 people died on November 6 1985 during an army offensive to retake Bogota's Palace of Justice from the M-19 guerrilla group, who had stormed the building and taken 300 people hostage.

All 35 guerrillas and 11 Supreme Court Judges were among those who died during the military operation. The army has been accused of torturing and murdering a further 11 civilians who disappeared after being rescued.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/20828-government-denies-obstruction-of-justice-in-palace-of-justice-case.html