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Venezuela deports 16 Colombian
in assassination attempt case
Venezuela deported on Wednesday
16 Colombians who were charged
with belonging to a paramilitary
force planning to assassinate
President Hugo Chavez.
The 16 deportees, arrested in
Caracas in May 24, were among a
group of 33 Colombians who
decided to become witnesses in
return for immunity from
prosecution.
Dario Angarita, Colombian consul
in Caracas, said on Wednesday
the group was never charged, and
received special protection from
the authorities.
The 16 Colombians deported
Wednesday were allowed to leave
Venezuela because of their
cooperation with authorities.
The other 17 members of the 33
who entered the special
witnesses program arestill being
held under special
circumstances.
Angarita said that there have
been 67 hearings in Caracas to
date relating to the remaining
100 suspects accused by
Venezuelan authorities of being
rebels.
The consul said the suspects are
being held in dignified
conditions and their human
rights are being respected, as
well as their right to legal
defense and due process.
According to Colombia's
government, only eight of the
133 have criminal records of
robbery and carrying weapons,
and there is no evidence that
they belong to far-right
paramilitary groups in Colombia.
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