The Colombian ambassador has called his own president’s behaviour “disappointing” when confronted with evidence about the imprisonment of an academic identified as a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group.
Campaign group Justice for Colombia are lobbying the Colombian government over the cases of two academics, Miguel Angel Beltran and Liliany Obando, who have been held for a total of nearly three years without trial.
During a meeting with JFC officials, trade unionists and MPs, ambassador Mauricio Rodríguez Múnera was told that Mr Uribe had accused Mr Angel of being a FARC official called Jaime Cienfuegos, “one of the most dangerous terrorists”, in remarks published on the president’s website.
Labour MP Jim Sheridan said: “He said if that was the case that would be disappointing. It’s just self-denial, buying time.” The Colombian embassy had not commented as Tribune went to press.
Mr Uribe leaves office next month after the presidential run-off election. His former defence minister Juan Manuel Santos is in the lead.
