Gabo becomes peacemaker, while “para-politics” scandal continues

Colombian president Alvaro Uribe claimed that famed author Gabriel Garcia Marquez has been serving as a mediator in peace negotiations between the government and Colombia’s second-largest rebel group. Uribe gave no details as how exactly “Gabo” is participating in the negotiations though according to Reuters:

“Some analysts said the government may see the author's close friendship with Cuban leader Fidel Castro and his standing in Colombia as a way to bolster talks.”

Meanwhile, the “para-politics” scandal keeps widening as the days go by; this time the governor of Magdalena province gave himself in to authorities this morning after an arrest warrant was issued. Trino Luna has been accused of working with right-wing paramilitary groups to come into power in 2003 and he joins a growing number of politicians accused of underhanded dealings with the paramilitaries.

Links- eCanadaNow, BBC News, CNN, The Latin Americanist, El Tiempo, Reuters AlertNet

Image- VivirLatino (Gabriel Garcia Marquez along with Cuban singer-songwriter Pablo Milanes)