Mario Uribe Escobar

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Mario Uribe Escobar
In office
July 20, 1994 – 2007
Political party Democratic Colombia Party
Residence Bogotá / Medellin
Occupation lawyer, politician

Mario Uribe Escobar (born in Andes, Department of Antioquia) is a Colombian politician and lawyer. Uribe-Escobar graduated in Law from the Autonomous University of Medellín and the University of Antioquia.[1][2]

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[edit] Political career

He began his political career as councilman of his hometown; the municipality of Andes, Department of Antioquia. Between 1982 and 1986 served as deputy of the Department Assembly of Antioquia and then to the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia in representation of Antioquia, serving from 1986 to 1994, in which he was Vice President of the Chamber between 1990 and 1991 and worked as member and president of the Investigations and Accusations Commission. In 1994 Uribe-Escobar was elected to the Senate of Colombia and served until October 2007.[3][4] Uribe-Escobar quited the Senate after receiving a notification from the Attorney General of Colombia calling him to testify on regards to the Parapolitics scandal.

In 2003 Uribe-Escobar participated in the foundation of the Democratic Colombia Party which was the base of the former Sector Democrático movement. Uribe-Escobar was considered one the most important allies of President of Colombia and cousin; Alvaro Uribe.[5]

[edit] Parapolitics scandal

See also: Colombian parapolitics scandal

[edit] Alleged meeting with paramilitaries

In relation to the Colombian parapolitics scandal, Uribe-Escobar was first mentioned by Jairo Castillo Peralta aka "Pitirri" who was a former member of the paramilitary group United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) and was a personal bodyguard of former politician Álvaro García Romero also implicated in the scandal for mingling with paramilitaries. From his exile in Canada, Casatillo-Peralta said that Uribe-Escobar had met with AUC top commanders in northern Colombia to negotiate cheaper land in the region of Caucasia and in the Department of Sucre.[6] Uribe-Escobar responded to this saying that he did not have any land in Caucasia or Sahagún but he did have land of his property between the towns of Sahagún and Ciénaga de Oro in the Department of Córdoba which were acquired in 1991.[7]

[edit] Testimony of Salvatore Mancuso

Imprisoned AUC paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso confessed during a court session that he had met with Uribe-Escobar in two occasions with the purpose of forming a political coalition with then Senator of Colombia, Eleonora Pineda for the Colombian legislative election, 2002. Mancuso said that he had asked Pineda to introduce him. Pineda was later accepted into the Democratic Colombia Party, but before the Colombian presidential election, 2006 Pineda was expelled.[8]

[edit] Arrest warrant

A Delegated Attorney to the Supreme Court of Colombia found enough merits and evidence to issue an arrest warrant against Uribe-Escobar without a right to pay a fine. Uribe-Escobar was syndicated of "concert to commit crimes" consisting on agreeing to promote illegal armed groups. He had been accused by the Supreme Court but since Uribe-Escobar had renounced from his post as senator, ordinary justice could put him on trial.[9] After receiving the notification Uribe-Escobar announced to the Colombian authorities that he was going to surrender voluntarily and comply with the mandate of the Attorney General of Colombia.[10]

[edit] Asylum petition

[edit] References

  1. ^ (Spanish) El Pais: Mario Uribe no pudo eludir a la Fiscalía
  2. ^ (Spanish) terra.com: Mario Uribe
  3. ^ (Spanish) El Pais: Mario Uribe no pudo eludir a la Fiscalía
  4. ^ (Spanish) terra.com: Mario Uribe
  5. ^ (Spanish) El Pais: Mario Uribe no pudo eludir a la Fiscalía
  6. ^ (Spanish) El Universal (Cartagena): Costa Rica negó asilo a Mario Uribe
  7. ^ (Spanish) El Pais: Mario Uribe no pudo eludir a la Fiscalía
  8. ^ (Spanish) El Pais: Mario Uribe no pudo eludir a la Fiscalía
  9. ^ (Spanish) Caracol Radio: Tras orden de captura, Mario Uribe busca asilo político
  10. ^ (Spanish) Caracol Radio: Tras orden de captura, Mario Uribe busca asilo político