Venezuelan mayor accused of ties with guerillas

The mayor of Maracaibo, Venezuela- Giancarlo DiMartino (image)- has been accused of aiding Colombia’s second-largest guerilla group. The charges stem from this video aired by Venezuelan regional television which claimed that DiMartino personally provided a guerilla commander with rations.

A spokesman for the Zulia state government denied the claims against DiMartino:

(The video) is part of a campaign of yellow journalism because we have undertaken humanitarian efforts for over three years along the (Venezuela-Colombia) border,” said local government secretary Gyovanny Villalobos.

the spokesman added that one of the men appearing on the video and highlighted as alleged guerilla leader “Petrolio” is a local farmer with over 20 years experience who was “consternated” at the claim.” [ed.- personal translation]

Colombian president Alvaro Uribe said that the accusations are “very serious” if they are true. Currently he is meeting with a visiting delegation from the U.S. led by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Sources (English)- Reuters, El Universal, YouTube

Sources (Spanish)- RCN, El Tiempo

Image- Periodista Digital