The Colombian state's 'murder quotas'

In its decades-long war against communist rebels, the government turned incentivised murder into an industry of its own, reports NICK MACWILLIAM

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019

EVEN among the atrocities of Colombia’s armed conflict, the False Positives programme stands out for its cruelty.

Thousands of civilians — mainly young, entirely poor — were lured to designated locations with fake job offers.

Once there, the army murdered them and dressed them in guerilla uniforms. The victims were presented as enemy kills, demonstrating the state’s effectiveness in combatting the guerilla insurgency.

Soldiers were incentivised through financial rewards for kills.

. . .

The JEP has logged 2,248 cases of extrajudicial killings, 97 per cent of which took place during the 2002-10 presidency of ultra-conservative demagogue Alvaro Uribe.

Despite his administration’s abysmal human rights record and links to paramilitary groups, Uribe remains extremely influential.

His hand-picked candidate, the relative unknown Ivan Duque, won last year’s presidential election, two years after Uribe had orchestrated the shock No vote in Colombia’s peace plebiscite.

. . .

Today, however, the peace process is faltering amid escalating violence across rural regions. Around 700 social activists and Farc former guerillas have been murdered since the agreement was signed.

. . .

Community leaders, trade unionists and people working to implement the peace agreement at grassroots level are being systematically targeted.

Recent revelations have raised fears the worst state-backed atrocities of the armed conflict are resurfacing.

On May 18 the New York Times exposed shocking new directives emanating from military top brass.

. . .

In 2018, almost two-thirds of global trade unionist murders were committed in Colombia (34 of 53 cases).

More:
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/colombian-states-murder-quotas