Current Colombian generals investigated for ‘false positives’

[Judi Lynn]

Current Colombian generals investigated for ‘false positives’
Nov 4, 2014 posted by Joel Gillin

Several generals in Colombia’s armed forced are being investigated for their past involvement in the “false positives” scandal in which thousands of innocent civilians were murdered by state agents to up their body counts.

In a revived debate over the expansion of military jurisdiction, critics argue that handing over the prosecution of the false positive cases from civilian to military courts could lead to impunity for the more than 3,000 cases – with more than 4,000 victims – that have occurred since 1986.

Along with members of Congress, these criticisms have been expressed by the United Nations and prominent international human rights groups.

Leftist opposition Senator Alirio Uribe has been a strong opponent of the military justice reform. In late October, he presented a list in Congress of nine generals who are allegedly involved in hundreds of cases of false positives. Another Senate debate on the topic is scheduled for Wednesday.

While nearly 5,000 state agents have been implicated – mostly military – around 780 have been convicted. Not a single general has been convicted.

More:
http://colombiareports.co/current-generals-investigated-false-positivies/

[bananas]

1. Unbelievable. nt

[Judi Lynn]

2. Colombia’s opposition wants generals dismissed over extrajudicial killings

Colombia’s opposition wants generals dismissed over extrajudicial killings
Nov 6, 2014 posted by Joel Gillin

Colombia’s leftist opposition on Wednesday asked the government to remove eight generals over their alleged roles in the extrajudicial execution of Colombian civilians.

Representative Alirio Uribe of the leftist Democratic Pole party, presented his request in a debate Wednesday that was postponed over supposed agenda issues in the chamber.

The politician tweeted out a video containing information about was he says are the top eight generals who have been implicated in the scandal known as “false positives.”

The scandal is centered around the extrajudicial killings of thousands of civilians by members of the armed forces who dressed their victims as guerrillas in order to present them as combat kills.

FACT SHEET: False positives

Some of the generals Uribe seeks to have removed from their posts have as many as 100 cases of false positives that occurred in units under their command. Included in his list is the current General Commander of the Armed Forces, the Command of the Army, and the head of the advisory board in Washington on the topic of human rights.

More:
http://colombiareports.co/opposition-politician-asks-dismissal-colombian-generals-false-positives/