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Iván Cepeda Castro stated that, two decades ago, paramilitary structures under the command of Salvatore Mancuso took control of the University of Córdoba and threatened, displaced or murdered professors, students, and workers, creating an environment that, he said, nullified academic deliberation. He also pointed out that Claudio Sánchez, rector during the takeover, was prosecuted for complicity with the paramilitaries and that Abelardo de la Espriella was his lawyer. Cepeda further maintained that De la Espriella had been a friend and partner of Mancuso, and he criticized him for now claiming that he would defend the university's institutional autonomy, calling him a liar. #Colombia #UniversidadDeCórdoba #DerechosHumanos (translated)

Gustavo Petro stated that the University of Córdoba had been under the control of Salvatore Mancuso, with the murders of dozens of students and professors, and pointed out that Abelardo had been an advisor to Mancuso and paramilitarism. Petro said he had held parliamentary debates on the influence of drug trafficking and paramilitary groups in politics, including public universities. He wrote that he denounced that these had been taken over to divert resources, promote violence, and restrict freedom of thought and expression. He added that, after his debates and accusations against politicians allegedly allied with armed drug traffickers, 35% of senators were convicted and imprisoned by the Supreme Court of Justice. He also claimed that the court was persecuted and replaced by the "cartel of the toga" and corrupt prosecutors. The president maintained that, after the fall of politicians linked to drug trafficking — whom he said were succeeded by family members — the University of Córdoba was freed from paramilitarism and grew significantly in coverage and quality. He stated that those who benefited from the takeover of the institution stagnated it while turning the private university into a business and hoarding peasant lands and water through violence. Petro said that these sectors governed Córdoba and had a president, despite not having a majority, and that they sought to return to the past. He attributed to them the halting of programs of his government to recover swamps, including the Grande, and to promote agrarian reform in Córdoba and Sucre. He also asserted that they wanted to stop the development of the university and the access of Cordoban youth to knowledge. Finally, he called on the Historic Pact to summon the people to elect delegates to its congress and urged resistance against what he described as a new advance of allies of drug trafficking and violence, with municipal coordinations ideally made up of women, peasants, and youth. #UniversidadDeCórdoba #Narcoparapolítica #DerechosHumanos (translated)