Colombia peace tribunal charges 19 soldiers for 300 murders

The murders allegedly symbolize ‘false positives,’ civilians killed by the military and offered as fighters.

Protesters hold up a banner with images of people killed in 'false positives' in Colombia
Individuals show in opposition to the 'false positives' in entrance of the Particular Jurisdiction for Peace in Bogota [File: AFP]

A particular peace tribunal investigating atrocities dedicated throughout Colombia’s decades-long battle has charged 19 troopers with struggle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity for murdering 303 folks, principally civilians, between 2005 and 2008.

The murders kind half of what's recognized in Colombia as “false positives”, the place the navy killed civilians after which offered them as fighters to attempt to inflate the effectiveness of their struggle in opposition to rebels. In return, the troopers acquired particular advantages reminiscent of assist to achieve promotion.

The Particular Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) mentioned on Monday it had gathered sufficient proof to cost 19 troopers, an intelligence agent and two civilians for the murders and compelled disappearance of a whole lot of individuals within the jap Casanare division.

A common and 5 colonels, all now retired, are among the many accused.

‘Prison organisation’

The tribunal’s magistrates mentioned the troopers belonged to the sixteenth Brigade, by which “a legal organisation” killed and falsely offered civilians as fighters and criminals that “had fallen in fight”.

Some victims had been plied with alcohol and medicines.

In return for his or her crimes, the troopers acquired “permits, particular meals, vacation plans, coaching courses overseas and recognition” to speed up their promotion.

From 2002 to 2008, beneath the right-wing presidency of Alvaro Uribe, Colombia’s navy dedicated greater than 6,400 murders, in response to the JEP.

The accused should both settle for or reject the costs within the coming weeks. In the event that they confess and make reparations to their victims, they will keep away from jail time. In any other case, they withstand 20 years in jail.

The JEP was arrange following the 2016 peace deal that dropped at an finish greater than a half century of battle between the state and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which has since fashioned a political get together.

The tribunal investigates atrocities dedicated by either side within the battle.

In June, the previous FARC management took duty for its actions and apologised to its victims.

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