Why Colombia’s former army chief is facing up to 40 years in prison

[Judi Lynn]

Why Colombia’s former army chief is facing up to 40 years in prison
Posted by Stephen Gill on Mar 29, 2016

Colombia’s former army commander is facing prison for a series of alleged crimes, but the one with a 40-year penalty is about his alleged complicity in the killing and promoting of killing of thousands of civilians.

One of Montoya’s colleagues, General William Torres, was arrested on Monday for his alleged complicity in the murder of numerous civilians, and Montoya is soon awaiting the same fate, the prosecution announced.

Colombia’s military began killing civilians when General Mario Montoya was still a brigade commander in Medellin. However, with his rise in the military, the National Army’s killing of civilians to increase success rates rose too.

As commander of Colombia’s National Army between 2006 and 2008, Montoya failed to take action to prevent his men from engaging in killing civilians to collect bonuses, he openly promoted the criminal practice in various divisions throughout the country, according to the prosecution.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/former-colombia-army-commander-facing-40-years-prison/

LBN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141395855

[center]

General Montoya, standing beside Pres. Uribe, Pres. Bush, and Sec. of Defense Santos.



Painting by Colombian artist, Fernando Botero, "The General and his Family."



General Montoya. [/center]

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombia arrests army general decade after killing of civilians

Colombia arrests army general decade after killing of civilians

Henry Torres turns self in after order for arrest on homicide charges

Deaths of thousands of civilians were presented as killings of rebel fighters

Associated Press in Bogotá
Monday 28 March 2016 14.09 EDT

Colombia has arrested an army general for his role a decade ago in the killing of civilians presented as guerrillas killed in combat, the highest-ranking military officer to ever be detained for such crimes.

Gen Henry Torres, who currently holds an administrative position in the armed forces, turned himself in on Monday as soon as the arrest order on charges of homicide against him was issued.

. . .

Colombia has arrested an army general for his role a decade ago in the killing of civilians presented as guerrillas killed in combat, the highest-ranking military officer to ever be detained for such crimes.

Gen Henry Torres, who currently holds an administrative position in the armed forces, turned himself in on Monday as soon as the arrest order on charges of homicide against him was issued.

More:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/28/colombia-arrest-army-general-henry-torres-false-positives

[Judi Lynn]

2. Colombia to charge two generals over civilian killings

Colombia to charge two generals over civilian killings

AFP
12 minutes ago

Bogota (AFP) - Colombian prosecutors will charge two army generals for their alleged role in the murders of civilians who were later presented as rebels killed in combat, sources said Tuesday.

The military has been under fire for years over a scandal in which army units are accused of killing thousands of civilians, mostly poor young men, from 2002 to 2008 and reporting them as FARC rebels or drug traffickers.

The extrajudicial killings, which inflated the number of insurgents killed in combat, earned promotions, decorations and perks for those who took credit.

But prosecutors will now bring homicide charges against General Henry Torres and former army commander Mario Montoya, a highly decorated retired general, in the so-called "false positives" case, prosecution sources told AFP.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/colombia-charge-two-generals-over-civilian-killings-011734737.html