Álvaro Uribe, who served as Colombia's president from 2002 to 2010, has made history as the first former president to be convicted of a crime in the country's history. A court in Bogotá has found the 73-year-old guilty of witness tampering and fraud, specifically for his attempts to bribe witnesses in a separate investigation examining his alleged ties to right-wing paramilitary groups known for their involvement in human rights abuses.
The charges carry substantial penalties, with potential prison sentences of up to 12 years. Despite the conviction, Uribe, who consistently denies any wrongdoing, is expected to appeal the court's decision. He expressed his strong feelings of disbelief, reportedly shaking his head as the verdict was announced.
Uribe's presidency is characterized by a vigorous military campaign against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a leftist guerrilla group that has engaged in an internal conflict in Colombia for decades. Although Uribe has always refuted any links to right-wing paramilitary forces, he has faced scrutiny regarding his relationships with such groups, particularly during intense legal proceedings against him.
Supporters of Uribe, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have decried the conviction as a politically motivated attack against a leader who they claim has fought bravely for his nation. Rubio took to social media to assert that the judiciary in Colombia is being weaponized against Uribe, who he claims has only sought to defend his country.
The conviction comes more than ten years after Uribe was first charged in 2012, when he accused left-wing senator Ivan Cepeda of orchestrating a scheme to falsely link him to paramilitary forces. However, the country's Supreme Court refuted Uribe's claims and instead pursued an investigation into his connection with these controversial armed factions.
Colombia has a complex history with paramilitary groups that emerged in the 1980s, which formed ostensibly to combat poverty and social marginalization, yet became heavily involved in drug trafficking. Although Uribe's strategies earned him praise from the United States for their firmness against Farc, they also garnered criticism for failing to address the systemic inequality and poverty prevalent in Colombia.
The peace deal signed with Farc in 2016 by Uribe's successor has led to ongoing violence from disarmed groups in the region, showing that Colombia's challenges persist. As Uribe faces the repercussions of the court's decision, the nation grapples with the legacy of its past and the quest for justice.
