Rural inhabitants threatened by armed groups to stop reclaiming territories; police confiscate printers used for false currency; football club discusses giving up titles won using ?dirty money?.
Rural inhabitants threatened by armed groups to stop reclaiming territories
President Juan Manuel Santos has offered a reward of up to two million Colombian pesos for any information that might lead to the capture of those who have been pressuring rural inhabitants to stop reclaiming territories.
Many of those attempting to reclaim land that has been taken from them are facing threats from armed groups.
The north of the country is worst affected, including: the south of the Bol?var department, Uraba Antioque?o, Bajo Cauca Antioque?o, and the departments of C?rdoba, Meta and Guaviare.
A report released by the Colombian Ministry of Justice and Law suggests that illegal organisations including ?Las ?guilas Negras?, ?Los Rastrojos?, ?Los Paisas?, el Erpac, and ?Los Urabe?os? have been threatening and attacking rural leaders and inhabitants.
The country dwellers frequently claim that their buildings have been occupied by members of the right-wing paramilitary organization Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (United Self-defence forces of Colombia ? AUC), or the heads of drugs-trafficking organisations.
Last Saturday, during a meeting in Medell?n, President Santos stated that ?the government will combat any threat? against people trying to reclaim their land.
He set out to restore 3.5 million hectares before the end of his term in 2014.
Police confiscate printers used for false currency
The Colombian authorities have dismantled two printers that were used to falsify foreign currency, particularly US dollars, in operations carried out in the centre and south east of the country.
Police discovered the printing works in the Cauca department and in Bogot?. They have now arrested fourteen people and confiscated approximately US$2 million, together with a similar amount in euros.
The operation, ?Aurora?, initially led to the discovery, in Piendam? in the Cauca department, of a house where dollars were being fabricated. It is believed the profits of this went to the VI Frente de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Sixth Front of the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia ? FARC).
A total of US$1 million in a variety of currency, and a printer were seized.
The operation in Bogot? led to the arrest of 12 people who were supposedly producing US dollars, pounds sterling, euros and Colombian pesos.
Millonarios to give up its two ?tainted? titles?
Last week it was rumoured that the most successful football team in Colombia?s history, Millionarios, was going to give up two of its 13 titles, which were won whilst the club was controlled and financed by drug-traffickers.
The news that the club may relinquish the titles it won in 1987 and 1988 has proved unpopular with fans, particularly after the team?s 8 ? 0 defeat by Real Madrid last Thursday.
However, Gustavo Serpa Preciado, an investor and member of the club?s board of directors, has defended the idea, arguing that it constitutes an important message of transparency and could consolidate the new kind of society being established in Colombia.
Millionarios was sold to notorious drug-lord Gonzalo Rodr?guez Gacha, also known as ?el Mexicano? in 1982. He bought it jointly with two livestock farmers, ?lmer Tamayo and Guillermo G?mez Melgarejo. The latter was also believed to be involved in organized crime.
The publication ?El Tiempo? claims that the club was the drug lord?s favourite ?plaything? and that he organised matches between Millonarios and his hired hit men, or ?sicarios?.
Upon buying Millos he immediately paid off its 250 million-peso debt. He also bought players including Pedro Alberto Vivalda, Jos? Daniel Van Tuyne, Juan Gilberto Funes, Marcelo Trobbiani and Mario Vanemerak.
A lawyer who advised the club whilst it was owned by ?el Mexicano? told ?El Tiempo? that a player could earn US$50,000 a month plus bonuses for each goal that pleased Rodr?guez Gacha?.
?El Mexicano? was also linked, during that period, with possibly the most famous drug lord of all time: Pablo Escobar.
The president of Millonarios, Felipe Gait?n, faced with a public outcry at the suggestion that the club would give up two of its titles, has since clarified that the proposal has not been officially presented to its governing board.
He added that ?no decision will be taken without taking into account the opinions of the club?s shareholders, directors, footballing stars and its fans?.
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