Former Valle representative, Sigifredo López, said on Monday that the country will realize that he is innocent and had absolutely no responsibility in the kidnapping and murder of his colleagues in the Valle Assembly. “The country will realize that,” he said.

In reference to the video in which the prosecution claims López appears giving the guerrilla advice on how to carry out the kidnapping López said “the tone of voice is different, back then I was 38 years old, my voice was younger…the frequency, that man is more paused when speaking. This was hasty.”

López asked the national media to analyze how stories are supposed to be treated and pointed out that the Dijín already said this video is not compelling proof of his involvement.

As his voice cracked, he asked “Who could possibly think I would put myself through torture for all that time? Who could possibly think I am a monster?” Later he said: “I was a victim of Farc..they took everything from me…my God, where is the logic?”

López said it’s clear that God has a mission for him, which is to search for peace in Colombia and said he will continue to work with that goal in mind. “I love this country, I have roots here, and that’s why I haven’t left.”

He also said there are people “who will not forgive me for being alive, that’s not my fault.”

López has been in custody since May 16^th when a warrant for his arrest was issued by a judge for his alleged complicity in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of 11 representatives from the department of Valle.

Colombian Vice-President, Angelino Garzón, was not elected as the new head of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the second most important position within the United Nations, but his support was key to Englishman Guy Ryder’s victory.

While some national political figures feel Garzón’s candidacy was a lost cause to begin with, others believe the intense five-month campaign with visits to 12 countries was a chance to present Colombia to the world in a different light and secure ties that will lead to more technical assistance for the country later on

Colombia’s Defense Minister, Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno, said on Monday that the Government has not received any type of proof linking former President Alvaro Uribe with the attack against former Justice Minister, Fenando Londoño.

In a press conference Pinzón said “Nobody has ever handed me any kind of proof, much less a foreign government, about an attack against Dr. Londoño”. The attack occurred shortly before noon last May 15^th, two people were killed and approximately 50 others were injured.

Pinzón criticized claims of the alleged involvement made by Venezuelan political scientist, Miguel Angel Pérez, who said on a television show that it had been confirmed that “the alleged attack against Minister Londoño of Colombia was planned and executed by them, Alvaro Uribe and, supposedly, Londoño himself.”

Uribe tweeted his rejection immediately after learning of Pérez’ claims.