General Oscar Atehortua and Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo.
Duque and Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo publicly supported Atehortua until after his resignation despite the growing crisis.
The outgoing general was appointed by the president in December 2018 after Duque replaced the leadership of the military and the police inherited by former President Juan Manuel Santos.
The president’s promotion of allegedly corrupt officials initially plunged the National Army in crisis and subsequently did the same with the National Police.
Public approval of the security forces sunk to a record low as corruption and abuse of power claims piled up.
Spanish head of CIAT kidnapped in Colombia
Spanish citizen Jesus Quintana Garcia, head of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), has been kidnapped in the southwest of Colombia, the local RCN radio station reported.ANI | Bogota | Updated: 07-12-2020 18:49 IST | Created: 07-12-2020 18:49 IST
Representative image. Image Credit: ANI
Bogota [Colombia], December 7 (ANI/Sputnik): Spanish citizen Jesus Quintana Garcia, head of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), has been kidnapped in the southwest of Colombia, the local RCN radio station reported. According to Colombian Police General Oscar Atenhortua, the Spanish agronomist was kidnapped on Sunday in the region of Cauca on his way to Huila. He caught the attention of a criminal group who would probably make economic demands.
What’s new? Crime and violence have simmered along the lengthy Colombian-Venezuelan frontier for decades. But the regional spillover of Venezuela’s political conflict and economic collapse has caused ties between the two states to fray as well, amid border closures, a migrant exodus and rival military exercises.
Why does it matter? Numerous armed groups clash with one another and harm citizens along a border marked by abundant coca crops and informal crossings. High bilateral tensions could spur escalating border hostilities while perpetuating the mistreatment of migrants and refugees whose movements have been restricted by COVID-19.
What should be done? Colombian and Venezuelan authorities should urgently establish communication channels to resolve violent incidents along the border, possibly with international backing. They should reopen formal border crossings as planned, but also increase humanitarian aid to help ensure that migrants and refugees are healthy and can m
Massacres in Colombia more than triple as corruption cripples government
December 14, 2020
Massacres more than tripled in Colombia this year as corruption is corroding the government’s capacity to govern.
Conflict monitor Indepaz said Monday it has registered 83 mass killings of more than three people this year, compared to 25 last year.
At least 349 people were massacred in a new wave of violence that adds to ongoing terror caused by the mass killing of human rights defenders and community leaders.
2020 massacre victims
According to Indepaz, 292 social leaders have been assassinated so far this year, which could become the most politically violent since 2016 when former President Juan Manuel Santos signed peace with demobilized FARC guerrillas.
Colombia promotes weedkiller as solution to armed conflict
December 13, 2020
Colombia’s defense minister on Saturday used a massacre to promote herbicide glyphosate as a solution to increased violence and armed conflict.
In a press conference, controversial Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo claimed that the country’s 81st massacre this year is due to “that damn drug trafficking.”
The alleged “disaster” of a minister went on to promote glyphosate as if the the notoriously ineffective aerial spraying of coca would improve public security.
President Ivan Duque is under increasing pressure for failing to comply with a 2016 peace deal with demobilized FARC guerrillas that would allow the dismantling of paramilitary groups.