How loyal is Colombia’s army to Santos’ peace efforts?
How loyal is Colombia’s army to Santos’ peace efforts?
Dec 11, 2014 posted by Robin Llewellyn
Following two official warnings to maintain discipline and respect civilian authority, and further corruption revelations from within the armed forces, has the Colombian military developed a habit for stepping beyond its power?
The military continue to provide embarrassments to their civilian commanders, from illegal wiretapping of peace talks with the FARC by army personnel, to General Ruben Dario Alzate supplying a deliberately misleading travel plan before setting off unarmed and in his Bermuda shorts into the waiting arms of FARC guerrillas, to the military’s embezzling of funds in Antioquia.
The first warning to the army was delivered last week by President Juan Manuel Santos, who told Canal Capital Radio: “Any official, regardless of how important he is, who shows lack of loyalty and discipline will have to leave the Armed Forces.” Days later Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon renewed the order. In what was described as a “scolding” by newspaper El Espectador, Pinzon told newly promoted officers at a Senate plenary.
“I want to give a clear public order in compliance with the orders of the President of the Republic: Gentlemen generals, admirals, colonels and captains of the navy, your mission is to comply with the Constitution and the law,” the minister said loud and clear.
Military forced to face own crimes
The Colombian army, unlike other Latin American military forces hardly have a history of overthrowing governments. However, it is no secret that many in the military are unhappy with the peace talks with their 50-year-long enemy in Cuba, and concerned that many of their own actions could come under the scrutiny of any results that might emerge from the current investigation of a truth commission, which is expected to put the responsibility of thousands of human rights violations with the army.
More:
http://colombiareports.co/loyal-colombias-army-santos-peace-efforts/