Colombian colonel sentenced for faking civilian murders

[Judi Lynn]

Source: BBC News

14 July 2011 Last updated at 03:04 ET
Colombian colonel sentenced for faking civilian murders

A Colombian army colonel has admitted his unit murdered 57 civilians, then dressed them in uniforms and claimed they were rebels killed in combat.

Colonel Luis Fernando Borja was sentenced to 21 years, reduced from 42 years for accepting responsibility.

In a typical case in 2007, Borja admitted two men were lured to their deaths with supposed promises of work.

He is the most senior officer convicted so far in what has become known as the "false positives" scandal.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-14149676

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[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombian colonel jailed for killings of civilians made to look like rebels

Colombian colonel jailed for killings of civilians made to look like rebels
A former Colombian colonel has been sentenced to 21 years in jail after his unit killed scores of civilians and then dressed them in military uniforms in order to claim they were rebels killed in combat.

2:45AM BST 15 Jul 2011

Col Luis Fernando Borja Giraldo became the highest-ranking official to be convicted so far in his country's scandal of "false positives".

~snip~
Most of the deaths happened under the rule of Alvaro Uribe, the former president widely credited with overseeing a successful fight back against left-wing guerrillas who have waged war against state forces for decades.

Col Borja Giraldo said that two months after he arrived in the northern region of Sucre he learned that "false positive" killings had already been carried out there.

He said he chose to become part of the "illegal organisation" behind the killings "first because I preferred to remain silent, in fear for my life and for my family, and second, for fear of being thrown out of the Army."

More:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/colombia/8639257/Colombian-colonel-jailed-for-killings-of-civilians-made-to-look-like-rebels.html