Resignation of the director of military doctrine of the Army, Colonel Pedro Rojas Guevara – Investigative Unit

President Iván Duque has on his desk, since last September 22, the request for the voluntary retirement of Colonel Pedro Javier Rojas Guevara, Director of the Center for Doctrine of the National Army.

That of Rojas, a seasoned officer with 33 years at the institution, is a key position because that doctrine nurtures military planning and operations on the ground. And, since 2011, it has been executing the so-called Damascus plan, the articulating axis of the second great reform and modernization of the Army that configures what experts have called the new military DNA.

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For this reason, the terms that the high official uses in his letter to the President, known exclusively by EL TIEMPO, have alarmed those who have had access to it, which has not yet been processed.

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“I must respectfully but emphatically express to the President of the Republic that I have absolutely lost confidence in the Institutional High Command, headed by General Eduardo Enrique Zapateiro, commander of the National Army, which, without a hint of doubt, not only it prevents me from continuing under his orders but, in addition, it goes against my Christian principles and values ​​such as loyalty, fidelity and transparency ”, says the high official.

And he adds: “For this reason, after meditating calmly with God and my family, I have decided for my honor and dignity, to take this momentous step with my head held high, the satisfaction of having fulfilled my duty and enormous gratitude after 33 years of service. to this noble institution and to the country that we swore to defend ”.

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What led Colonel Rojas to request his discharge? What is behind your words?

EL TIEMPO located the officer and although he initially stated that the so-called Damascus doctrine – which allowed the Army to reach NATO and which has been replicated in other countries – entered a kind of pause due to the pandemic, and was later dispatched .

Connection with Havana

“There is an obvious internal leadership crisis. We have 25 fewer generals than there should be, and officers of other ranks have also left, ”he replied when asked about the content of his letter.

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For Rojas it is clear that this lack of leadership and internal incompetence do not generate confidence in the troops.

And about Damascus, he pointed out that they continue to enroll it as a doctrine developed by one of the parties: General Alberto Mejía, former commander of the Military Forces. And that is why they have taken away support.

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“Since 2011, Generals Navas, Mantilla, Rodriguez, Lasprilla, Mejía, Gómez and Martinez supported the doctrinal evolution called Damascus, within the framework of the Army transformation plan (2011-2030). The strange thing is that the current commander wants to erase something that has been beneficial for the institution, “he said in dialogue with this newspaper.

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For Rojas it is clear that this lack of leadership and internal incompetence do not generate confidence in the middle management and the troops.

“It is a great mistake to associate Damascus with Havana. The decision to erase it has missed leaders of other armies that have replicated the model in their countries, such as Canada, Ecuador, Nigeria, Thailand, Peru, Nigeria, Panama and the Dominican Republic. We are global partners of NATO because Damascus exists, it is the common professional language and the strategic-operational umbilical cord ”, added the senior official.

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And concluded: “Erasing the Damascus doctrine implies a detriment to the Army’s patrimony, since there are billions of pesos invested in a nascent project, it reminds me of Nero when I burned Rome”

Why Damascus?

Finally, when asked why this doctrine was baptized by Damascus, he explained:

“The name Damascus is an analogy inspired by the Bible, that gives it a deep spiritual meaning for those of us who believe in God, it is not a religious matter, nor a banality, it is to understand that Damascus represents doctrinal” conversion “, and a new vision for the Army, as it happened to Saul turned into the Apostle Paul in his trip to Damascus, event narrated in the book of the Acts, “he clarified.

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And he insisted that Damascus represents a change in the mentality of the commanders: “Without losing our DNA, our essence, the name gives strength to this new military thought. We are a mostly believing army, our slogans indicate it: Faith in the Cause, God in all our actions, we do not understand why they are uncomfortable with a name that it has the power of God ”.

(See here all the articles of the Investigative Unit of EL TIEMPO)

Now a response is expected from Commander Zapateiro.

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