Witness Ties Colombian General to Paramilitaries

[Judi Lynn]

Witness Ties Colombian General to Paramilitaries
By Juan Forero
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, September 17, 2008; Page A12

MEDELLIN, Colombia -- Gen. Mario Montoya has for years been a trusted caretaker of the sizable aid package Washington provides Colombia's army, leading helicopter-and-commando teams that eradicated drug crops and helping orchestrate this summer's dramatic rescue of hostage Ingrid Betancourt and three captured U.S. defense contractors from Marxist rebels.

With his cinematic bluster and take-charge nature, he impressed visiting American congressional delegations and military officials as an effective, no-nonsense commander who produced results.

But now, a former paramilitary fighter has said in special judicial proceedings that Montoya, who heads Colombia's army, collaborated with death squads that took control of this city's poor neighborhoods from the guerrillas a few years ago. His testimony, along with that of at least four paramilitary commanders, is illuminating the links between Colombia's potent, U.S.-backed military and its brutal paramilitary proxies.

The allegations, if proved, could be highly damaging for the government of President Álvaro Uribe, a strong ally of the Bush administration who has staunchly supported the general in the face of past allegations. Investigations into the ties between illegal paramilitary groups and the Colombian state have already implicated numerous allies of the president, including dozens of lawmakers and the former head of the secret police.

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/16/AR2008091603006.html?nav=rss_world/southamerica

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombian general linked to death squads

Colombian general linked to death squads
Published: Sept. 17, 2008 at 1:11 PM

MEDELLIN, Colombia, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A former Colombian paramilitary fighter has named the nation's top general as a collaborator with death squads.

The Washington Post said Wednesday the witness told a judicial hearing that Gen. Mario Montoya cooperated with the death squads that terrorized poor neighborhoods in Medellin that were controlled by leftist guerrillas a few years ago.

Montoya has not been charged in connection with the investigation, but an official at the Colombian attorney general's office told the Post "that is the next step."

The Post said the allegations come as a blow to the United States. Montoya has been the overseer of U.S. military aid to Colombia and helped plan the high-profile rescue of four hostages held by the rebels.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/09/17/Colombian_general_linked_to_death_squads/UPI-15191221671470/