Colombia-Election-Drugs
6-24-1994
^Official: Gov't Kept Controversial Tape Secret Until After Elections
^By ANDREW SELSKY
^Associated Press Writer
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) _ A senior law enforcement official says the government knew drug kingpins planned large contributions to the ruling party's presidential candidate, but kept mum until after he won the election.
President Cesar Gaviria's office refused to comment on the allegation, made by an official speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.
Before the election, Gaviria's government received an audiotape of Cali cocaine cartel leaders planning deals with and donations to ruling party candidate Ernesto Samper's campaign, the official said.
Samper beat Conservative Party candidate Andres Pastrana by only 1.7 percent of the vote on Sunday, one of the closest presidential elections in Colombian history.
The audiotape indicates the Samper campaign sought money from the cartel and that the traffickers were trying to "buy" five Cabinet positions, including that of defense minister, the law enforcment official said. The defense chief would command military operations against the cartel, the world's biggest cocaine-trafficking gang.
The traffickers never clearly say whether the campaign received cartel money.
Samper has said any campaign officials implicated in the affair would face criminal sanctions.
In Washington, Alexander Watson, assistant secretary of state for inter- American affairs, said the United States was concerned by the allegations.
"We would hope Colombian authorities would investigate thoroughly," he said.
^Official: Gov't Kept Controversial Tape Secret Until After Elections
^By ANDREW SELSKY
^Associated Press Writer
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) _ A senior law enforcement official says the government knew drug kingpins planned large contributions to the ruling party's presidential candidate, but kept mum until after he won the election.
President Cesar Gaviria's office refused to comment on the allegation, made by an official speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.
Before the election, Gaviria's government received an audiotape of Cali cocaine cartel leaders planning deals with and donations to ruling party candidate Ernesto Samper's campaign, the official said.
Samper beat Conservative Party candidate Andres Pastrana by only 1.7 percent of the vote on Sunday, one of the closest presidential elections in Colombian history.
The audiotape indicates the Samper campaign sought money from the cartel and that the traffickers were trying to "buy" five Cabinet positions, including that of defense minister, the law enforcment official said. The defense chief would command military operations against the cartel, the world's biggest cocaine-trafficking gang.
The traffickers never clearly say whether the campaign received cartel money.
Samper has said any campaign officials implicated in the affair would face criminal sanctions.
In Washington, Alexander Watson, assistant secretary of state for inter- American affairs, said the United States was concerned by the allegations.
"We would hope Colombian authorities would investigate thoroughly," he said.
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