(7 Aug 1995) T/I 10:51:25
STORY: SAMPER
LOCATION: BOGOTA
DATE: 6 AUGUST 1995
DURATION: 2.15
President denies role in drug industry
Colombian President Ernesto Samper went on nationwide television
on Sunday (6/8) to deny any involvement in a high-level drug
corruption scandal. He said that the arrest of cartel kingpin
Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela was "the beginning of the end of the
problem of drug trafficking in Colombia." Rodriguez, the sixth of
seven leaders of a cartel in the city of Cali to be caught, was
arrested on Sunday. Samper's denials came after his former
campaign treasurer, Santiago Medina, testified that he obtained
$6.1 million from the Cali cartel with Samper's approval. He said
that Rodriguez was given a receipt for $4.9 million signed by
campaign director Fernando Botero, who resigned as defence
minister following the testimony. A pastor, Bernardo Hoyos, also
testified that Rodriguez had shown him documents and played him
audiotapes linking Samper's campaign to the cartel. However,
Rodriguez is denying the cartel made campaign contributions. This
has raised speculation that he could be seeking a lenient sentence
in exchange for his silence on possible campaign contributions.
Samper spoke on the eve of his first year in office,
SHOWS:
(BOGOTA, 6/8)
President Ernesto Samper on TV, saying this is the end of the Cali drug cartel and the beginning of the end of the problem of drug trafficking in Colombia. We will continue eradicating crops and having them substituted; we will continue intercepting planes and controlling airports; we will continue to destroy drug laboratories. Today more than ever we uphold high moral standards in the name of those who have died in the fight against drugs in Colombia." CA flag. SOT: "With the end of the cartels will come the end of the narco-corruption in Colombia. In the last few days we have untied a noose of moral terrorism. Even I have been a victim. I personally guarantee that I am innocent. I do not need any person on the fringe of the law to question my honesty because the Colombian people already know that in front of
them they have an honest president." CA. SOT "I am prepared for all the attacks, to discredit them and to take on all charges of a conspiracy. The government demands that it be judged on its results and its actions, like the one that led us to end the Cali cartel. It pains my heart to see that what is happening is breaking the unity that all Colombians need to continue the struggle against vilolence so that peace can return."
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