ANNCOL Interview with Raul Reyes of the FARC: "War Against Drugs is a Farce"

By Daniel Santamaria (ANNCOL)

Q. The Vallejo diva, in her book published in the United States, "Loving Pablo Hating Escobar" claims that Mr. Alvaro Uribe has installed a narco-state originally concieved by Pablo Escobar? Commander, (Reyes), can you please give your opinion to the readers of ANNCOL?

RR. In her book, Mrs. Vallejo is refreshing the memories of the international community as well as the Colombians' , about the well known existence of the narco-state, now administered by the narco-regime of the Para-politicos ( ties of paramilitary death squads and the Colombian state) led by Alvaro Uribe. The irony of this situation, is that Mrs. Vallejo is currently in the United States, protected by the DEA and the CIA. Then how do we interpret the alleged strong ties between Washington and Casa de Narino? (The equivalent of Colombian "White House") in Bogota while there is the familiar talk of a frontal war against the drug trade?. The least that comes to mind to the average person anywhere in the world is that the so called War against Drugs is a farce, and that behind this deception, is a repressive policy to target the opposition movements and organizations who are against the regime.

Q. Does the diva also mention the time when Pablo Escobar lends a helicopter to rescue the body of Uribe's father, which he denies ? Is it true that this man died due to an assault by the FARC against the Guacharaca's farm, property of the Uribe Velez's family?

RR. Well, the episode of the helicopter lent by Pablo Escobar to the Uribe Velez's family is well known by Mrs. Vallejo and also by other persons who mentioned it from a long time ago. It is not easy to pinpoint the actual attackers who launched the assault that resulted in the death of the president's father. When people dedicate their lives to the business of drug trafficking, they tag along many diverse enemies due to gangster style mentality.

Q. Commander Raul, Colombia is now more aware of the details concerning President Uribe's private and public life. What does the FARC know about Uribe that Mrs. Vallejo didn't mention in her book?

RR. The Colombian people are wise and have knowledge about the grotesque procedures undertaken by President Uribe, which do not surprise us at all, because such practices are endemic and common in the mafioso psyche, in the use of terror instigation and blunt pressure as a means to obtain credibility and trust within their circle of assosciates in barbarism. It is obvious as time moves on, that more details will come out about the private lives of Colombian
mafias.

Q. "All roads lead to Uribe" is a phrase that encompasses all the relations and ties between the president and the illict drug trade, as well as the paramiliatrism during 25 years, Do you share this view?

RR. Of course, we share the same belief and we're convinced of the phrase: "All roads lead to Uribe", this is in reference to his historic ties with the mafias in the drug business, and the creation of the paramilitaries. We just have to go back and remember his notoriety as mayor of Medellin and as governor of Antioquia where he oversaw the strenghthening of the paramilitary terror. Now he proceeds as president of the same bands who are now the beneficiaries in countless privileges as payment for the favors obtained from them, while he persecutes those vast sectors who are dissatisfied with his schemes.

21/10/2007