The influential Colombian newsmagazine Semana has recently divulged some audiocassettes that show how the auto defenses and the mafia are taking over the paramilitary forces in Colombia. The secret negotiations have recently been aired.

The current Colombian president Alvaro Uribe is offering the auto defenses all of the authority of his position to avoid their extradition and a possible trial by the International Criminal Court (ICC). These are only two of the topics of discussion from the last meeting between the Colombian government and the United Auto Defenses of Colombia (AUC) in which Salvatore Mancuso decided to not take part.

Being that the rest of the paramilitary commanders have complete confidence en Mancuso, and being that he is the official spokesman of the different auto defense groups, it is no exaggeration to say that the peace process is in it’s most critical juncture since last July.

The series of events have been revealed exclusively by Semana, which had access to ten hours of secret tapings. These tapings show many serious problems in Colombian society, including the growing infiltration of the mafia in the drug trade and the paramilitaries.

Translation : C. Hancock