Two US soldiers arrested in Colombia

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Thursday May 05, 2005 14:42 by Lasc - Lasc

US military aid going to paramilitaries

Two US soldiers have been arrested accused of smuggling arms to the paramilitaries.

A serving Colonel and Sargent of the US army based in Colombia have been arrested. Both men are accused of trafficking in arms and supplying the paramilitaries (AUC) with the arms. The munitiions that were seized are the exact same type of munition that the US supplies to the Colombian armed forces and is the same used in the trainging exercises that both men oversee in the Colombian military base of Tolemaida.

The arrests raise questions over the role of US military aid. Human rights groups have long criticised such aid claiming that it was effectively going to the paramilitaries. This is the first arrest of US soldiers for this type of offence. However, other US personell in Colombia as part of the "War on Drugs" have been arrested for drug trafficking.

None of the accused will stand trial in Colombia due to an immunity agreement signed with the Colombian State.