Human Rights Watch: Colombian Army Killed Civilians to Boost Body Count In The War Against FARC

Relatives carry children’s coffins at a mass funeral in Barranquilla on 11 September 2010 after authorities turned over the corpses of six victims of the army’s ‘false positives’ scandal. Photograph: Reuters

New York Times: Colombia Military Accused of Deception on Civilian Deaths

Many generals and other high-ranking officers in Colombia’s armed forces may have known about a pattern of soldiers killing civilians and passing off the deaths as guerrilla casualties in the campaign against rebel insurgencies, according to a report to be released on Wednesday.

The report, by Human Rights Watch, also says that Colombian prosecutors face numerous obstacles in seeking to investigate high-ranking military personnel who may be linked to the killings, including a lack of cooperation from the armed forces and intimidation of key witnesses.

A scandal over the killings, which were intended to inflate the number of apparent guerrilla casualties and create a false image of positive results in the country’s struggle against insurgents, erupted in 2008. It resulted in the resignation of the commander of the Colombian Army, the firing of a few high-level officers and stained the reputation of the president at the time, Álvaro Uribe, who aggressively escalated the campaign against the guerrillas.

More News On Human Rights Watch Claiming Colombia Killed Thousands Of Civilians While Claiming They Were Guerrilla Fighters

Colombia: Top Brass Linked to Extrajudicial Executions -- Human Rights Watch
Colombian army killed civilians to fake battlefield success, rights group says -- Washington Post
Colombian army officials escaped punishment in killing of 3,000 civilians, report says -- FOX News Latino
Colombia acts on massacres – punishing whistleblower and promoting officers -- The Guardian
Report: Colombia generals go unpunished in civilian killings -- AP
Colombian Army Killed Civilians to Boost Body Count in Fight With FARC -- Sputnik
Colombian Military Killed Thousands Of Civilians, Passed Them Off As Rebel Combatants, To Boost Image: Report -- IBTimes
Colombia’s former army commander called into questioning over extrajudicial killings -- Colombia Reports

How U.S. Intelligence And GPS Bomb Kits Helped Colombia Cripple FARC

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Covert Action In Colombia Against FARC -- Defesanet

U.S. intelligence, GPS bomb kits help Latin American nation cripple rebel forces

The 50-year-old Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), once considered the best-funded insurgency in the world, is at its smallest and most vulnerable state in decades, due in part to a CIA covert action program that has helped Colombian forces kill at least two dozen rebel leaders, according to interviews with more than 30 former and current U.S. and Colombian officials.

The secret assistance, which also includes substantial eavesdropping help from the National Security Agency, is funded through a multibillion-dollar black budget. It is not a part of the public $9 billion package of mostly U.S. military aid called Plan Colombia, which began in 2000.

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Previous Post: How The CIA Helped Colombia Cripple The Rebel Movement FARC

My Comment: I covered this story last week .... but this is a more detailed analysis

Hat Tip: Eric Palmer Blog (via Twitter)

Colombia's 54-Year Civil Conflict Has Claimed 220,000 Lives

Defected members (with armbands) of Colombian guerrilla group ELN fall in at a military base during their surrender and the handover of their weapons, in Cali July 16, 2013. REUTERS-Jaime Saldarriaga

Report: Colombia’s Conflict Has Claimed 220,000 Lives Since 1958 -- Miami Herald

BOGOTA, Colombia -- At least 220,000 people have been killed, more than 5,000 have disappeared and 4.7 million have been forced off their land during Colombia’s 54-year civil conflict. The chilling numbers, presented Wednesday by a government commission, are the most thorough accounting ever made of this nation’s ongoing struggles.

The report, which took six years to compile, comes as the country is in the midst of peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the nation’s largest guerrilla group, even as it engages the rebels in pitched battles.

Among the study’s findings: Civilians accounted for 82 percent of all conflict-related deaths, and one out of every three violent deaths can be blamed on the conflict. Of the 1,982 massacres — defined as the killing of four or more people — from 1980 to 2012, right-wing paramilitary groups were responsible for 59 percent of them. Of the 27,023 kidnappings from 1970 to 2010, guerrillas were to blame 91 percent of the time.

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More News On A Report That Details The Human Cost Of Colombia's 54-Year Civil Conflict

The human toll of Colombia's conflict: 220,000 lives and counting -- Christian Science Monitor
Historical panel says Colombia’s conflict has claimed at least 220,000 lives, mostly civilians -- Washington Post/AP
Colombia report reveals deadly extent of five-decade conflict -- Reuters
Colombia admits rights violations in battle with leftists -- AFP
"The war dehumanised us" - Colombia president -- Reuters
FACTBOX: Colombia's armed conflict in numbers -- Reuters

Colombian President Santos Believes That Peace Is Possible (Interview)

Colombia's Santos Believes Peace Is Possible -- Al Jazeera

President remains cautious about FARC but tells Al Jazeera peace deal is possible if there is "goodwill" on both sides.

Colombia's president says he will not lower his guard against the country's main rebel group, but he believes a peace deal is possible if there is "goodwill" on both sides.

"If there is goodwill from both parts, we will reach an agreement much sooner than people expect," Juan Manuel Santos told Al Jazeera on Saturday, as peace talks between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), aimed at ending half a century of war between the two sides, is set to kick off next month.

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My Comment: This war has been ongoing for 50 years .... I am not optimistic that these talks will succeed.

Colombia's War Against FARC Continues

Give Up Or Die, Santos Tells Colombia Rebel Boss -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos warned the new FARC rebel chief to reconsider waging war or risk the same fate as his predecessor, who was shot dead by special forces this month.

The naming of hard-liner Timoleon Jimenez as leader of the drug-funded guerrilla group has dampened hopes the killing of the former commander, Alfonso Cano, could herald the beginning of the end of nearly five decades of war.

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More News On Colombia's War Against FARC

Santos tells FARC leader 'Timochenko' to end violence -- Colombia Reports
Farc names cocaine kingpin as regional commander -- The Telegraph
Colombia's new FARC boss, a doctor and strategist -- Reuters
Colombia's FARC rebels choose hardliner 'Timochenko' to lead -- Christian Science Monitor
Colombians increasingly optimistic about their country -- Colombia Reports
FARC leader dies, civil war continues -- William Lloyd George, Al Jazeera

Colombia's War Against FARC Is Heating Up

A Colombian soldier stands guard next to weapons seized from suspected FARC members. Photo AFP

Colombia Nixes Talks With FARC After Brutal Attacks -- AFP

BOGOTA — Colombia ruled out peace talks with leftist FARC rebels after they killed five soldiers and 14 police officers, some of them burned alive, Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera said.

"There's no possibility of dialogue with terrorists nor with anybody who thinks they can use violence and terror to get their point across," Rivera said in an interview with Caracol radio.

He said the new administration of President Juan Manuel Santos "will never give in to this sort of blackmail.

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More News On Colombia's War Against FARC

Colombian troops storm rebel camp -- BBC
Colombian Military Kills 11 Guerrillas -- Latin American Herald Tribune
Colombia's President Pledges Tough Action Against Rebels -- Voice of America
Santos tells Colombian military to 'get tough' with rebels -- AFP
Santos calls military summit over FARC attacks -- Colombia Reports
14 cops killed in Colombia ambush, rebels blamed -- AP
14 police killed by bomb in Colombia -- Sydney Morning Herald/AFP
UNASUR Rejects FARC`s Mediation Request -- CaribWorldNews

FARC Receives More Military Setbacks In Colombia

Colombian army flies over the Cauca area (Photo: Luis Robayo / AFP)

Colombia Nabs FARC Commander, New Paramilitary Chief -- Latin International Herald Tribune

BOGOTA – Colombian authorities captured Saturday in separate operations in the country’s northwest one of the principal leaders of the new paramilitaries and a commander of a FARC guerrilla front, officials said.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe confirmed the capture of Luis Deiber Duran, alias “Morcilla,” head of a paramilitary group known as “Los Urabeños,” in a police operation in Cordoba province.

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More News On Colombia's War Against FARC

Colombian troops capture regional rebel commander -- Earth Times
After the revolution: Why are Farc's young soldiers laying down their guns? -- The Independent
Colombian narco-terrorist sentenced to 20 years in US prison for role with FARC -- L.A. Times/AP
Farc drugs baron jailed in the US -- BBC
Top Colombian rebel gets 20 years prison in U.S. -- Reuters
Chavez admits meeting FARC commander -- Colombia Reports
Pastrana denies having authorized Chávez's meeting with FARC members -- El Universal
Colombian candidate discloses location of guerrilla members in Venezuela -- El Universal
Colombian Guerrillas Kidnap 5 Oil Workers -- Latin American Herald Tribune
Colombian journalist shot and killed -- Washington Post/Reuters

Colombian Govt Confirms Death Of FARC Leader 'Edgar Tovar'

Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva

Colombia Confirms Death of Rebel Commander -- Latin American Herald Tribune

BOGOTA – Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva confirmed the death of a leftist rebel commander who authorities said headed up the guerrillas’ drug-trafficking activities in the southern part of the country.

Angel Gabriel Lozada, alias “Edgar Tovar” – commander of the 48th Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, guerrilla group – was killed on Jan. 20 but it was not until Wednesday that he was identified through DNA tests.

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Update: Govt confirms death of FARC leader 'Edgar Tovar' -- Colombia Reports

My Comment: It has taken a long time for the Colombian Government to confirm this death .... but due to the importance of the target I can appreciate their caution. I do not expect the civil war in Colombia to now calm down because of this death, but the soldiers and commanders who make up FARC must be wondering if this struggle can continue at this intensity for any significant period of time.

Scores Of FARC Guerillas Killed In Airstrike While Celebrating New Years Eve

Colombia Raids Farc Jungle Base During Party -- BBC

An air strike by Colombian forces has killed at least 18 Farc rebels while they held a New Year's party in a jungle camp, officials said.

Another 13 surrendered when troops stormed the base in Meta province, the defence ministry said.

It said Friday's raid was part of an offensive to find those responsible for the death last week of the governor of the southern province of Caqueta.

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More News On Colombia

Colombia: 18 rebels killed in attacks on 2 camps -- Washington Post
Colombian forces raid Farc camp -- Al Jazeera
Colombia troops bomb rebel camp, killing 18 -- China View
Bombardment kills at least 18 Colombian rebels -- Reuters
Uribe disavows statements of aggression against Venezuela -- Colombia Reports
Two Killed in Colombian Rebel Attack -- Latin American Herald Tribune
Colombia says coca crop eradication down in 2009 -- Seattle PI/AP
Despite billions in US aid Colombia fails on coca targets -- Morning Star
Hugo Chavez claims Colombia, US could simulate attack on fake rebel camp in Venezuela -- The Canadian Press
Colombia needs to prepare for foreign threat - study -- Reuters
Colombian assassination raises fears about FARC's strength -- Washington Post
Colombia’s Peacemaker -- Newsweek
Fears grow of South American arms race -- Financial Times

Colombia's War Against FARC -- News Updates December 16, 2009

Colombia's Two Biggest Rebel Groups Say May Unite -- Reuters

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's two biggest rebel groups said on Wednesday they may join forces against the state after years of being pushed onto the defensive by the U.S.-backed security policies of President Alvaro Uribe.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) issued a surprise joint statement in which they threatened to unite with "force and belligerence" in their fight against the conservative Uribe.

The two groups, labeled terrorists by Washington, have deep ideological differences but now appear willing to consider uniting for the sake of survival.

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More News On Colombia's War Against FARC

FARC and ELN uniting -- Colombia Reports
Colombia kills rebel chieftain and his bodyguards -- Reuters
11 FARC guerrillas killed in air force bombing raid -- Colombia Reports
Uribe: Colombia will continue political persecution of FARC leaders abroad -- El Universal
Ecuador: US helped Colombia attack on FARC chief -- AP
Ecuador says U.S. helped Colombia plan '08 bombing -- Reuters
Ecuador reiterates call on Colombia to increase border surveillance -- Colombia Reports
Lessons from America's Other Counterinsurgency -- Foreign Policy

Colombia: Pinned Down In Their Jungle Lairs, Wounded Farc Face Long War's End

Members of the guerrilla group Farc on parade in a rebel-held zone in Colombia.
Photograph: Scott Dalton/AP

From The Guardian:

The helicopter headed west, rotors scything the air, towards the border with Colombia and a setting sun. The jungle canopy below was so thick that even at treetop level it was impossible to see what, or who, might be on the ground.

The Venezuelan Mil Mi-35 combat transport helicopter was like a steel sauna and when it touched down in a clearing the crew quickly opened the doors. It made no difference. The air outside was hot and sticky. While other helicopters flew overhead, soldiers from the 12th Infantry Brigade fanned out into the trees, assault rifles at the ready, to reclaim a patch of Venezuela.

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My Comment: 30 years of conflict, 200,000 dead and more, families destroyed, future generations gone .... and for what?