New York Times journalist leaves Colombia as article on army chief unleashes far-right fury
by Adriaan Alsema May 19, 2019
The New York Times’ bureau chief in Colombia said Sunday he has left the country after an article critical of the country’s army commander was published and the country’s far-right retaliated online.
In the article, journalist Nicholas Casey reported that controversial national army chief Sacasio Martinez “has ordered his troops to double the number of criminals and militants they kill, capture or force to surrender in battle — and possibly accept higher civilian casualties in the process.”
According to the report, the order has created unease among multiple senior army officials who feared the order could revive the military’s previous habit of assassinating civilians to inflate results.
Following the article, Defense Minister Guillermo Botero announced a criminal investigations if the given orders violated Defense Ministry norms in relation to human rights and international humanitarian law.
More:
https://colombiareports.com/new-york-times-journalist-leaves-colombia-as-article-on-army-chief-unleashes-far-right-fury/
Also posted in LBN:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142318350