Colombia: Velez Arrest Seen as Proof of Rightist Plot Against Caracas

The arrest of former Colombian politician Julio Velez en Venezuela charged with involvement in the assassination of Venezuelan National Assembly member Robert Serra has sparked reactions back home. Many Colombian social organizations view the charges against Velez as proof of Colombian far right involvement in attempts to bring down the Bolivarian Revolution and other Latin American professive governments. Velez's close links with former right-wing President Alvaro Uribe -himself a bitter opponent of the Venezuelan revolution under Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro- have not been lost on Colombian activists. Inside Colombia, Velez is considered to be part of the paramilitary and criminal organizations established by Uribe. Nevertheless, in social media, the former president has denied any links with Velez. teleSUR