Plazas Vega sentence upheld in Colombia

BOGOTA, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A Colombian court upheld an appeal of former Col. Luis Alfonso Plazas Vega's sentence for his role in the disappearance of 11 people in a 1985 military siege.

The Superior Tribunal of Bogota upheld the 30-year sentence, handed down in 2010, for Plazas Vega's role in the forced disappearance of the 11 people after the military reclaimed the Palace of Justice from M-19 guerrillas, Colombia Reports said Tuesday.

Plazas Vega had appealed, saying he was not involved in the disappearance of Carlos Horacio Uran, an assistant judge to the Council of State, as well as cafeteria workers, two visitors and guerrilla Irma Franco Pineda. They had survived the siege but were not seen again, and it is believed the military tortured and killed them.

The tribunal also ordered the Colombian government to investigate former President Velisario Betancurt for his alleged role in the offensive.

Plazas Vega is the only person to have been convicted in connection with the siege. Last month, retired Colombian army Gen. Ivan Ramirez Quintero and two fellow soldiers were acquitted.

M-19 guerrillas took over the Palace of Justice, the seat of Colombia's Supreme Court, Nov. 6, 1985. Judges, staff, and members of the public were taken hostage.

More than 100 people -- including 11 of the 25 country's Supreme Court magistrates, 48 Colombian soldiers and all 35 guerrillas who took part in the occupation of the building -- were killed in the occupation and army siege.