ONE OF Colombia’s most feared paramilitary leaders was extradited to the US on Thursday. He was extradited despite protests from human rights groups who fear that details of atrocities and government collusion with the militias may never be revealed.
US drug enforcement administration officials escorted Hebert Veloza Garcia, better known as “HH”, on to a plane for New York, where he will face drug-trafficking charges. Half a dozen Colombian human rights groups wrote a letter last month to US attorney general Eric Holder, asking that he delay the extradition of Veloza until after judicial proceedings here that focus on alleged paramilitary atrocities.
Veloza was a close associate of paramilitary leaders Carlos Castano and Salvatore Mancuso. Unlike 31,000 paramilitary fighters who had surrendered by 2006 in response to government promises of leniency, education and financial aid, Veloza remained at large until his capture in 2007.
Seeking to avoid extradition, he became a highly co-operative witness before special tribunals set up to investigate paramilitary crimes.
Paramilitary units, formed in the 1980s by cattlemen and farmers to defend against left-wing guerrillas, later branched into drugs and organised crime.
During dozens of appearances in the special courts, Veloza admitted to ordering massacres, personally killing more than 100 people, and participating in thousands of other crimes, including extortion and forced displacement of poor farmers. He was boss of the paramilitaries’ Bananeros block which fought to dislodge guerrillas in the Uraba banana zone in northern Colombia.
Veloza (41) also testified that paramilitary units he led received help from Colombian army Gen Rito Alejo del Rio. Del Rio commanded the 17th brigade, which human rights groups claim was responsible for dozens of extrajudicial killings of civilians. The officer is being investigated for possible collusion with militias. – (LA Times-Washington Post service)