Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Wednesday condemned a group on social networking site Facebook that issued death threats against Green Party presidential candidate Antanas Mockus.
“For God’s sake! If it is true they should go to jail. All candidates, all political leaders, no matter their beliefs, have protection from this government,” Uribe said of the group, named “I promise to kill Antanas Mockus before the 30th of May,” which has since been removed from Facebook.
“To propose to murder a citizen and in this case a Colombian who aspires to the presidency of the republic, and utilize these Internet tools; I think this is extremely serious, that it needs exemplary disciplinary measures,” Uribe continued.
“This is psychological pressure, if one runs for president one has to be prepared for this type of unpleasant situation, but it shouldn’t affect their work at all,” Mockus commented of the group.
This is not the first time Mockus has received death threats. On April 26 police received an anonymous tip-off of a plot to assassinate the Green Party candidate. Security measures for all presidential candidates have since been stepped up.
The former Bogota mayor and other candidates have been the victims of vicious smear campaigns throughout the presidential race.
Mockus, who currently leads voter polls, has been the target of much criticism following his fast ascent to the top of the opinion polls. His opponents attack his proposed security policies and paint him to be anti-Uribe and a crony of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
The Green Party candidate’s rise has been attributed to his party’s effective use of the Internet in their campaign.
Colombians go to the polls on May 30 to elect their next president.
