Diego Murillo Bejarano
Encyclopedia
Diego Fernando Murillo Bejarano, also known as Don Berna or Adolfo Paz, is a former leader of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
paramilitary group operating in Colombia
. He started working for the Medellín Cartel
and was ultimately to lead its militia wing. After internal vendettas he became one of Pablo Escobar
's many enemies and became part of the Los Pepes
organization headed by the Castaño brothers, Carlos
and Fidel
. The organization controlled a very powerful and bloodthirsty gang of hitmen named La Terraza (The Terrace). He then commanded two paramilitary blocs, the Cacique Nutivara Bloc and the Granada Heroes Bloc.
He became third in the chain of command of the AUC
and an a key player during the peace process in Santa Fe de Ralito
, Córdoba
between his organization and the government of Colombia
, until he was accused by a court of being responsible for the death of a deputy. He then escaped from Santa Fe de Ralito and surrendered to authorities four days later.
and drug trafficking charges filed by United States (federal) prosecutors of the Southern District of New York state. The judge ruled the trial will begin September 16, 2008.
On June 17, 2008, he pleaded guilty to trafficking tons of cocaine.
His lawyers and prosecutors agreed that he will be sentenced to 324 months to 405 months in prison. The sentence is scheduled to be determined December 18, 2008. The acting director of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency said that "American and Colombian communities are safer with the removal of this notorious drug kingpin."
The National Movement of State Crimes, a coalition of several organizations of victims who suffered from state or paramilitary violence, has asked for the "return the paramilitary chiefs to the Colombian authorities so they may be processed by the ordinary justice system and not under the framework of the Law of Justice and Peace, since this framework benefits the victimizers and not the victims, since they have not told all of the truth, have not made comprehensive reparations to the victims, and have not dismantled their criminal structures."
The Office in Colombia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that "according to Colombian law, the reasons claimed by the President of the Republic to proceed with the previously-suspended extraditions are also grounds for their removal from the application of the ‘Law of Justice and Peace’ and for the loss of the benefits established therein".
The Inter-American Commission stated that this "affects the Colombian State's obligation to guarantee victims’ rights to truth, justice, and reparations for the crimes committed by the paramilitary groups. The extradition impedes the investigation and prosecution of such grave crimes through the avenues established by the Justice and Peace Law in Colombia and through the Colombian justice system's regular criminal procedures. It also closes the door to the possibility that victims can participate directly in the search for truth about crimes committed during the conflict, and limits access to reparations for damages that were caused. This action also interferes with efforts to determine links between agents of the State and these paramilitary leaders."
United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia was created as an umbrella organization of regional far-right...
paramilitary group operating in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. He started working for the Medellín Cartel
Medellín Cartel
The Medellín Cartel was an organized network of "drug suppliers and smugglers" originating in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The drug cartel operated in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Central America, the United States, as well as Canada and Europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded and...
and was ultimately to lead its militia wing. After internal vendettas he became one of Pablo Escobar
Pablo Escobar
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a Colombian drug lord. He was an elusive cocaine trafficker and rich and successful criminal. He owned numerous luxury residences, automobiles, and even airplanes...
's many enemies and became part of the Los Pepes
Los Pepes
Los Pepes , was a short-lived vigilante group composed of enemies of narcotics kingpin Pablo Escobar who waged a bloody war against Escobar and his associates in the early 1990s.-Name:While the name suggested that all, or most, members of Los Pepes were previously persecuted by...
organization headed by the Castaño brothers, Carlos
Carlos Castaño
Carlos Castaño Gil was the founder of the Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Córdoba and Urabá , an extreme right paramilitary organization in Colombia...
and Fidel
Fidel Castaño
Fidel Castaño Gil was a right-wing Colombian drug lord and paramilitary who was among the founders of Los Pepes and the Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Cordoba and Uraba, a paramilitary group which ultimately became a member of the larger United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia.-Los Pepes:In the...
. The organization controlled a very powerful and bloodthirsty gang of hitmen named La Terraza (The Terrace). He then commanded two paramilitary blocs, the Cacique Nutivara Bloc and the Granada Heroes Bloc.
He became third in the chain of command of the AUC
United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia was created as an umbrella organization of regional far-right...
and an a key player during the peace process in Santa Fe de Ralito
Santa Fe de Ralito
Santa Fe de Ralito is a small ranching outpost in Cordoba, Colombia. It was also the home base for the former leader of the AUC, Salvatore Mancuso, as well as other leaders and 400 of their bodyguards. As part of the late 2004 demobilizations these people were given a temporary 142 square mile ...
, Córdoba
Córdoba Department
Córdoba is a Department of the Republic of Colombia located to the north of this country in the Colombian Caribbean Region. Córdoba faces to the north with the Caribbean sea, to the northeast with the Sucre Department, east with the Bolívar Department and south with the Antioquia Department...
between his organization and the government of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, until he was accused by a court of being responsible for the death of a deputy. He then escaped from Santa Fe de Ralito and surrendered to authorities four days later.
Extradition to the United States
In the early morning of May 13, 2008, Murillo Bejarano and thirteen other paramilitary leaders were taken from their jail cells in a surprise action by the Colombian government. According to Colombian Interior Minister Carlos Holguin they refused to comply with the country's Peace and Justice law and were therefore extradited to the United States, although many people argue that this action is actually favorable to the criminal as he will only be charged for drug trafficking in the United States, instead of being charged for his many murders and illegal action in Colombia. The next day, 'Don Berna' pleaded innocent to money launderingMoney laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
and drug trafficking charges filed by United States (federal) prosecutors of the Southern District of New York state. The judge ruled the trial will begin September 16, 2008.
On June 17, 2008, he pleaded guilty to trafficking tons of cocaine.
His lawyers and prosecutors agreed that he will be sentenced to 324 months to 405 months in prison. The sentence is scheduled to be determined December 18, 2008. The acting director of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency said that "American and Colombian communities are safer with the removal of this notorious drug kingpin."
The National Movement of State Crimes, a coalition of several organizations of victims who suffered from state or paramilitary violence, has asked for the "return the paramilitary chiefs to the Colombian authorities so they may be processed by the ordinary justice system and not under the framework of the Law of Justice and Peace, since this framework benefits the victimizers and not the victims, since they have not told all of the truth, have not made comprehensive reparations to the victims, and have not dismantled their criminal structures."
The Office in Colombia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that "according to Colombian law, the reasons claimed by the President of the Republic to proceed with the previously-suspended extraditions are also grounds for their removal from the application of the ‘Law of Justice and Peace’ and for the loss of the benefits established therein".
The Inter-American Commission stated that this "affects the Colombian State's obligation to guarantee victims’ rights to truth, justice, and reparations for the crimes committed by the paramilitary groups. The extradition impedes the investigation and prosecution of such grave crimes through the avenues established by the Justice and Peace Law in Colombia and through the Colombian justice system's regular criminal procedures. It also closes the door to the possibility that victims can participate directly in the search for truth about crimes committed during the conflict, and limits access to reparations for damages that were caused. This action also interferes with efforts to determine links between agents of the State and these paramilitary leaders."