Via the BBC: Colombia ex-spy chief Hurtado granted Panama asylum
Panama has granted political asylum to the former head of Colombia’s secret police, Maria del Pilar Hurtado.
The ex-director of the Department of Administrative Security is wanted over illegal wiretapping operations that could implicate Colombia’s previous president, Alvaro Uribe.
She has already left Colombia – she was not challenged as she passed through DAS-run immigration controls.
Panama’s move has caused outrage in Colombia.
As, quite frankly, it should. It strikes me as an odd move by the Panamanian government:
The president of Colombia’s Supreme Court, Jaime Arrubla – who was himself a victim of illegal wiretaps by the DAS – expressed surprise at the decision.
The concept of political asylum was to "protect those persecuted for their political ideas, not the persecutors", he said.
Indeed.
According to El Tiempo, six others are likewise seeking asylum: Otros seis ex funcionarios estarían buscando asilo: Mininterior.
Of course, the question remains as to whether the Santos administration wants an investigation of the Uribe administration.
