Alberto Villamizar

Alberto Villamizar (b. Cucuta, October 26 1944 - d. Bogota July 26 2007) was a Colombian politician and diplomat. He is best known for his role in fighting the Medellín drug cartel.

Early life

Villamizar's grandfather was Colombia's Minister for War and his father was a physician to the Presidential Guard. Villamizar studied medicine at the Xavierian University in Bogotá, but failed to complete his degree. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/28/world/americas/28villamizar.html "New York Times" "Alberto Villamizar, 62, Foe of Colombian Drug Cartel, Dies", 28 July 2007] ] He worked in advertising and marketing and was a sales associate for B.F. Goodrich, a job through which he came to gain a very complete knowledge of Bogota, something that would prove very useful in his political career later on.

Political career

Villamizar entered politics and became an ally of leading politician Luis Carlos Galán in seeking to limit the power of Pablo Escobar of the Medellín cocaine cartel. As leader of the Nuevo Liberalismo in the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia, Villamizar won passage of the National Narcotics Statute in 1986 which was the first general legislation against drug trafficking. He also worked against Escobar's attempts to have sympathetic politicians pass legislation against extradition.

Escobar arranged for an attempt on Villamizar's life in 1986. Following the assassination attempt, Villamizar was appointed as Ambassador to Indonesia. During his term as Ambassador, United States security forces captured a hitman in Singapore sent to kill him.

When Villamizar returned to Colombia, Escobar ordered Villamizar's wife, journalist Maruja Pachón, and his sister Beatriz Villamizar de Guerrero to be kidnapped. Eight more people were soon kidnapped as well. The President of Colombia commissioned Villamizar to negotiate the release of the captives. Escobar was so impressed with Villamizar's negotiating skills that he selected him to negotiate his (Escobar's) own later surrender to Colombian authorities. Gabriel Garcia Marquez based his 1997 book "News of a Kidnapping" on Villamizar's fight against kidnapping.

In 1996, President Ernesto Samper appointed Villamizar as Colombia's first kidnapping czar. He set up a special police force to tackle kidnappings. In 1997, he was appointed as the Ambassador to Cuba.

Death

Villamizar died in 2007 of complications of lung surgery in Bogotá, Colombia, aged 62.

References