Equipo Nizkor - Accompanied by drug trafficker "Ñeñe" Hernández, Duque promised to overhaul the high courts and the justice branch.

During his presidential campaign, joined by drug trafficker José Guillermo Hernández Aponte, a.k.a 'Ñeñe', Iván Duque promised in the city of Valledupar on March 26, 2018, to overhaul the high -courts of justice and the asset criminal forfeiture system.

By that day, Colombian and American authorities were already following Ñeñe's Hernández steps for his connection with drug trafficking, from which he laundered large amounts of money through a network of companies and banking maneuvers. As it happens, all of those assets have been seized by now.

'Ñeñe' Hernández died in unclear circumstances in Brazil, on May 1, 2019, when he was being sought by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol (DIJIN by its acronym in Spanish), and authorities from the United States for drug trafficking and money laundering.

The pronouncement took place three days after the 'Ñeñe' Hernandez had given Duque a bullet proof SUV for him to use in in the campaign trail in the Colombian north coast. That contribution from the drug trafficker does not appears registered in the official campaign finances, as accounted by the manager of Duque's campaign, Luigi Echeverry, who flatly denies the existence of unlawful contributions. According to Colombian electoral laws, the SUV should appear as a contribution either in cash or in kind.

At the event in Valledupar Duque and 'Ñeñe' Hernández were joined by Martha Lucía Ramírez (now vice-president), Alicia Arango (minster of the Interior), Carlos Holmes Trujillo (minister of Defense) and Daniel Palacios (current director in charge of the state-run National Protection Unit or UNP for its acronym in Spanish). At the event were also present José Felix Lafaurie and Sergio Araújo, the only members of the government party Centro Democrático that have acknowledged their friendship with the now deceased drug trafficker 'Ñeñe' Hernández.

The promise to overhaul the high courts of justice was made by Duque in the Convention Center Crispín Villazón de Armas, located at the second kilometer of the road that goes to El Rincón, north of Valledupar. The event was organized by the congressman Ape Cuello.

Standing next to 'Ñeñe', that day Duque stated:

"What we have to look for is that we have a Court system that is effective, agile; not so bureaucratic. We have so many magistrates and so many high courts. I dare to say that we are one of the countries of Latin America with more high court and that because of it what we are proposing it's an effective justice, that works for the citizen, that first and second instances work, that there is a selection of talent, that, besides, we have electronic records, we have alternative mechanisms for conflict resolution, that we strengthen the justice that is close to the citizen."

On that date, Duque was accompanied by his running mate, Martha Lucía Ramírez. Both also attended a tradition catholic mass devoted to Saint Ecce Homo, patron of Valledupar.

In the address to the country where he notified about his plan to reform the justice branch, Duque added, with 'Ñeñe' standing behind him:

"But what needs to be opened the discussion (sic) is about how we can have a more effective court system, where there are not that many collisions between different powers, and additionally where the courts don't lend themselves to politization and something the country also needs and it is to consider a court system that unifies the law, let's fortify the first and second instance and that the justice that works for the citizen be more effective."

The proposals to reduce the courts of justice, for which Duque has doubled down, has been interpreted by analysts and opponents as a plan to manipulate the criminal records that are part of the Supreme Court of Justice pending cases against Álvaro Uribe Vélez.

On January 6, 2019, being already president, Duque visited Valledupar and announced: "We want Valledupar to be the 'orange capital' of the Colombian Caribe (in refence to the orange economy, an economic policy that focuses on creative and cultural industries)". In that opportunity he presided the opening of the 'Concert of the Family and the Orange Economy', related to a confusing policy dedicated to digital development and the artistic production in different sectors.

The next day after this event, both in public and in private, Duque met with 'Ñeñe' Hernández, who registered in his social networks the affectionate encounter. He posted two photos of the him and the president and wrote this message: "With my president and my love".

According to the exclusive investigation of La Nueva Prensa (The New Press), Ñeñe's unlawful links with Duque's campaign came to light in an investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia, opened to clarify a homicide in Barranquilla, attributed to the former drug trafficker. Circumstantially in that process Ñeñe's conversations were intercepted, where he claims to be the central node in a vote-buying operation in the Colombian north coast for the now president, Ivan Duque, following orders of the former president and now senator Álvaro Uribe.

Translation from Spanish to English by Tomás Mantilla, @MantillaTomas.

16Mar20

Accompanied by drug trafficker "Ñeñe" Hernández, Duque promised to overhaul the high courts and the justice branch

[Source: By Julián F. Martínez, La Nueva Prensa, Bogotá, 16Mar20]

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