Colombia’s highest army commander, general Mario Montoya, resigned
Tuesday over the growing scandal of army officials murdering civilians
to make their war against leftist guerrillas and right wing
paramilitaries look more effective.
The army general has handed in his resignation to Colombian President Álvaro Uribe he announced through a communique.
Montoya didn’t specify the reasons of his resignation, but wrote “For 39 years I served my country. Today I think I reached the end of my journey. I lived the hopes and dreams I had as a child to wear the uniform of my beloved army and it became reality.”
The general praised the work of his soldiers who worked with him.
The Colombian army is under severe pressure after it was forced to sack 27 members for their alleged involvement in the disappearance and murder of civilians. Colombia’s prosecution announced it is investigating more than a 1,000 cases of possible ‘falsos positivos’, the murdering of civilians and reporting them as guerrillaskilled in combat to make the army look more successful in their battle against the FARC.
The UN has called the killings widespread and systematic.
Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos will appear before the senate Tuesday. The opposition is demanding he assumes political responsibility and resigns too.