Politicians enjoy cushy prison stay

[Judi Lynn]

Politicians enjoy cushy prison stay
Friday, 29 October 2010 14:00 Cameron Sumpter

Politicians convicted for links to paramilitaries and jailed in Bogota's infamous La Picota prison are getting special privileges, such as vallenato parties and regular trips outside of the jail, reports Caracol Radio.

In what has come to be known as the "parapolitics yard," barbecues and parties are regular events, while alcohol, Blackberry cell phones and cash are all freely available to inmates of the "Ere Sur" wing of La Picota, according to a Caracol source.

The source said that in May a parapolitics inmate called the then-Interior and Justice Minister Fabio Valencia Cossio while drunk and complained that someone was trying to kill the prisoner. An officer from INPEC, the national prison authority, allegedly then came to the rescue of the inmate, which the source said demonstrates the power parapolitics prisoners wield in La Picota.

Prisoners are also reportedly using the excuse of medical appointments to attend political meetings at bars and restaurants outside the prison.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/12660-parapoliticians-enjoy-cushy-prison-time.html

The U.S. Government dumps more than $500,000,000.00 U.S. taxpayers' hard-earned taxdollars into Colombia annually.

[dipsydoodle]

1. $500,000,000.00 U.S. taxpayers' hard-earned taxdollars

aka bung money.

Just gotta keep some semblence of control of the "ol' back yard" somehow or other.

:hi:

[Judi Lynn]

2. Taxpayers have nothing to say about it. It's payment to corrupt Colombians officials

for allowing the U.S. to use Colombia as its official buddy in the Americas, its base of operation for launching any and all covert and overt operations against any left-wing group or leader anywhere south of the U.S. border.

Just like Israel and the Mid-East.

Keeps the truly corrupted quiet, and buys their betrayal/abuse of their fellow countrymen/women.

How twisted can some people in the U.S. be, to regard Latin America as their property, their "back yard?" Perverts of the highest order.

http://www.expatadvocate.com.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/fat_america-300x231.jpg http://cache.gawkerassets.com.nyud.net:8090/assets/images/11/2010/06/uglyamericans.jpg

[dipsydoodle]

3. I'd overlooked

the fact you might not use that expression. Bung money = bribes. :)

[Judi Lynn]

4. Oh, yeah! You're right! Hadn't heard it, although it's a good one.

No reason at all it shouldn't be used here, too. Very appropriate.

http://failads.com.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/bung-hole.jpg