U.S. expresses concern for telephonic spying in Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. expresses concern for telephonic spying in Colombia
13:28, September 17, 2010

The United States was concerned about the telephonic spying in Colombia against justice, politicians and journalists, said State Department spokesman Gregory Adams Thursday.

Despite the human rights certification in favor of Colombia made on Wednesday, Adams said that his government continues concerning for the allegedly illegal interceptions

The certification "is a very positive message, to me, but just like in any other system of laws, there are some steps to take still," he told local radios station RCN during a telephonic interview.

"We are still worried by the alleged telephonic illegal interventions and the internal vigilance of Colombia by the Administrative Department of Security (DAS)," he said.

More:
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/7143414.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombian Spy Chief Ordered Illegal Wiretaps, Ex-Official Says

Caracas,
Friday
September 17,2010

Colombian Spy Chief Ordered Illegal Wiretaps, Ex-Official Says

BOGOTA – The former operations coordinator of Colombia’s DAS security agency identified erstwhile boss Maria del Pilar Hurtado as the person who ordered the illegal wiretapping of opposition politicians, Supreme Court justices, journalists and human rights activists.

In statements to Caracol Noticias television, Fabio Duarte said he and others accused of espionage in Colombia were merely following orders.

~snip~
Four of the people who headed DAS during the Uribe administration are currently in prison.

One of them, Jorge Noguera, is behind bars for his links to right-wing paramilitaries, while the other three are under investigation in connection with the wiretapping scandal.

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=366787&CategoryId=12393

[Judi Lynn]

2. Minister wants DAS to declassify intelligence records .

Minister wants DAS to declassify intelligence records .
Tuesday, 14 September 2010 06:08 Adriaan Alsema

Colombia's Interior and Justice Minister German Vargas Lleras said Monday it is "highly desirable" that intelligence agency DAS declassifies its intelligence records, to reveal the truth about the agency's illegal wiretapping activities.

The minister made his remarks following a report that the DAS had illegally wiretapped Vargas Lleras himself when he was senator for the coalition Cambio Radical party.

The interior and justice minister wants to "declassify this information" and "convict the involved persons." Declassifying the intelligence information will prevent a scandal like this from happening again, Vargas Lleras claimed.

While less explicit, Vice President Angelino Garzon told press that the will exists to "advance" in the declassification of records.

"We have to make an end to the practice that every citizen is worthy of suspicion. These are fascist practices that we can not allow in our country," Garzon was quoted as saying by newspaper El Espectador.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/11819-das-wiretaps-vargas-lleras.html

[Judi Lynn]

3. 'DAS spied on Belgian judge'

'DAS spied on Belgian judge'
Monday, 13 September 2010 15:07 Hannah Stone

Colombian security agency DAS sent agents to Belgium to carry out surveillance on a judge and on members of the European Parliament, reports W Radio.

DAS carried out the surveillance to find out how a judge was protecting a Colombian who allegedly had "inside" information on the FARC, according to the news source.

The security agency has been hit by a string of revelations concerning its illegal monitoring of opposition politicians, human rights workers, and Supreme Court magistrates, in what is known as the "wiretap scandal."

The latest claim is not the first suggestion that the agency carried out illegal monitoring abroad. In June an Ecuadorean newspaper published allegations that DAS spied on Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, while in April leaked reports from the Colombian Prosecutor General's Office said that the agency carried out illegal monitoring as part of a smear campaign against European organizations, including the E.U. Parliament.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/11813-das-belgium-judge.html

[Judi Lynn]

4. Uribe aide under investigation leaves country

Uribe aide under investigation leaves country
Friday, 03 September 2010 08:46 Adriaan Alsema

Bernardo Moreno, personal secretary of former President Alvaro Uribe, has left Colombia while authorities are in the middle of a criminal investigation against him, a prosecutor on the case told newspaper El Espectador.

According to Ramiro Bejarano, one of the prosecutors in the case against government and intelligence officials suspected of illegally wiretapping government opponents, Moreno left Colombia last week.

The prosecutor said he didn't know if the former presidential aide is still outside Colombia or has returned.

Moreno is one of three former presidential aides being investigated for the illegal wiretapping of Supreme Court magistrates, journalists and human rights organizations.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/11664-investigated-uribe-aide-leaves-country.html

[Judi Lynn]

5. 'CIA knew about DAS embassy infiltrations''

'CIA knew about DAS embassy infiltrations''
Friday, 10 September 2010 11:02 Adriaan Alsema

Colombia's intelligence agency DAS infiltrated the Bogota embassies of Cuba, Venezuela, and various Middle East countries with the knowledge of the CIA, a former DAS official testified Thursday.

According to former DAS investigator German Albeiro Ospina, the operations were ordered by former DAS director Maria del Pilar Hurtado and coordinated by captain Jorge Alberto Lagos.

"They ordered that operations be organized and accomplished for the government, regarding countries and persons that were of national interest," Ospina testified to prosecutors.

"I am talking about surveillance, shadowing, infiltration and penetration of the embassies of these governments," the former official said.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/11785-das-infiltrated-embassies-cia-knew.html

[naaman fletcher]

6. Of course the U.S. has zero moral authority on this issue. nt.