Jorge Enrique Robledo
Senator, Republic of Colombia
December 20, 2009

1. I will accuse Colombia’s Inspector General Alejandro Ordóñez of Perversion of the Justice System both as a criminal offense, before the Colombian Office of the Attorney General, and as a disciplinary violation, before the Colombian Supreme Court, because of his decision on December 14, 2009, to turn the “preliminary inquiry” he initiated against me on June 10, 2009, into the “opening of a disciplinary investigation.” In addition I will ask the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to investigate the aggression being perpetrated against me.

I will show in abundant detail that in making these decisions Inspector Ordóñez violated the laws he swore to uphold.

There is not a single shred of evidence linking me to the FARC guerrillas. On the contrary, in the “preliminary inquiry” process there is proof obtained by the police that shows such inquiry should not have been initiated in the first place, much less expanded with the “opening of a disciplinary investigation.”

It could not have turned out any other way, as this Senator has spent the last forty years in opposition to armed struggle in Colombia.

The “confidentiality of proceedings” in this case facilitates Inspector Ordóñez’s aggression, because it does not allow me to respond to the details of the case. But once the confidentially is lifted, anyone will be able to verify that the whole truth is on my side.

2. This new and treacherous attack serves as confirmation that there is indeed a conspiracy to discredit and punish me for my denunciations in the Senate against a sinister and corrupt government.

It's telling that Inspector Ordóñez’s decisions have been made when President Uribe was traveling abroad in Canada and Denmark, shortly after my own trips to Ottawa and Brussels, where I spoke against free trade treaties, which I oppose not only because of their negative economic and social impacts but also because the Colombian President has a dismal human rights record that cannot withstand even minimal levels of scrutiny.

I feel proud to have been one of the few Senators who voted against Alejandro Ordóñez for the position of Inspector General because of his record as a right-wing extremist, Uribe man.

3. Even though it will become evident that none of my actions provide any basis for the Inspector’s investigation, which will be seen as a mockery of justice, the Inspector’s decision, while not a formal accusation, will cause political harm to me and to the Polo Democrático Alternativo.

Who are they trying to muzzle?

If one thinks about the well-being of the country and sets aside political differences, it's evident that they are trying to muzzle all of Colombia.

Certainly I am not alone in denouncing the so-called “guaranteed farm income”: millions of Colombians are clamoring for honest government and against plutocracy. I am not alone in denouncing the shady business dealings of President Uribe’s sons: millions of Colombians want a decent government that offers equal opportunities for all. I am not alone in denouncing the terrible damages that will be caused by free trade treaties with the United Sates, the European Union and Canada: almost all Colombians desire relations with the rest of the world on an equal basis, not as citizens of a vassal state.

I ask my fellow citizens: since when is it a crime to be an honest, democratic and patriotic Colombian? Where are we headed if, in our defense of Colombia, we allow them to trample us with false accusations and ridiculous setups? Will we remain steadfast in our determination to demand transparency and condemn shady government business practices? Are we to abandon our constitutional rights to participate in our democracy, to think independently, and to believe that united we can create a country for the good of all, not just for the few?

Who is trying to silence us?

The Uribe government and its cronies who seek to perpetuate their power clique.

But to President Uribe, Inspector Ordóñez and all those who are trying to silence me, I say: if you fear this Senator, you fear Colombia. Don’t stray from the truth, don’t act out of cowardice. Colombia deserves much more than this. Be willing to accept the kind of respectful and consistent political opposition that I have engaged in for eight years, a debate based on principles and ideas. To silence those who think differently is an easy road, but one that will destroy our nation.

Are they going to silence us?

Of course not. Because we Colombians are neither stupid nor cowards.

I am an honest and dedicated Senator committed to the defense of national dignity and authentic democracy. My name is Jorge Enrique Robledo, and I will not be silenced.

Bogotá, December 20, 2009