Bogotá, June 12 (EFE).- The National Land Agency (ANT) invited former paramilitary chief Salvatore Mancuso, who commanded the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), authors of countless cases of land dispossession to participate in the agrarian reform. small farmers in the country.
“Following the instructions of the President of the Republic, we have had concrete approaches with the legal defense of Salvatore Mancuso so that within the framework of his peace management he can come to work and promote the issues associated with agrarian reform,” the director of the ANT, Felipe Harman.
The official considers that it may be a way to fairly compensate the peasants affected by the conflict: “Today in this context, we have insisted on advancing a strategy (…) that allows direct and substantial reparation to peasants who in their The vast majority were victims of the war.
The AUC, the group to which the most homicides are attributed in the Colombian armed conflict, is accused of working with companies and local powers for the forced displacement and subsequent dispossession of thousands of hectares of land, especially in the Colombian Caribbean.
In fact, this very Monday a court in Florida ruled this Monday that the banana multinational Chiquita Brands International, accused of financing paramilitary groups in Colombia that left thousands dead in that country, will have to pay $38.3 million to plaintiffs. and relatives of the victims.
The historic ruling further notes that Chiquita’s assistance to the AUC constituted “a dangerous activity” that increased the risk to community members beyond those dangers to which they were normally exposed.
The AUC demobilized in 2006 after reaching an agreement with the Government of then Colombian President Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010), but several of its leaders continued to commit crimes from prison, for which they were extradited to the United States in 2008.
One of those extradited to the United States on drug trafficking charges was Mancuso, who on February 27 was deported to Colombia, where he is being investigated in Colombia for more than 75,000 crimes as leader of the AUC.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro appointed Mancuso “peace manager” in July last year to, as he said, finish the peace process that he believes was not concluded with the paramilitaries.
In order for him to fulfill that role, he should not have a custodial measure from any court, but he is currently in prison awaiting this decision. EFE
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