Colombian Congressman denounces that he was illegally detained in Venezuela

José Uscátegui, Colombian congressman of the Democratic Center, claimed that what was supposed to be a trip to Caracas to intervene in the peace talks between the government and the National Liberation Army (ELN), ended with a illegal detention.

According to the congressman of the Uribe party, the Venezuelan authorities prevented his entry into the country and instead He was held for more than 12 hours until he was returned to his country..

“I was held incommunicado and for 15 hours I was held in an arbitrary, illegal and abusive manner. They had a guard who had to accompany me even to go to the bathroom.”he explained upon his return to Colombia.

Uscátegui has made a name for himself in Colombian politics as one of the officials who has criticized the peace talks. His visit to Venezuela was intended to provide the chief negotiators of each delegation with photographs of people allegedly in the hands of the guerrillas..

“I don’t know what the secrecy is surrounding the negotiations with the ELN (…) my only interest was to give these photographs to Senator Iván Cepeda and Vera Grabe so that when signing any new agreement, even if it is partial with the ELN, they put the release of these people as a condition.”he commented.

The Extraordinary round of negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN It has been celebrated in Caracas since last Sunday and will run until Monday, April 22.

The Colombian Foreign Ministry He noted that all protocols were activated to address the situation in Uscátegui: “As we have expressed through the appropriate channels, we regret what happened. These types of cases are cause for concern.”.