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The American newspaper, The New York Times, in its editorial published this Saturday, May 9, criticizes the espionage acts that apparently some members of the National Army, journalists and foreigners are carrying out.
In the article titled: ‘What Colombia did with the American espionage tools’, the newspaper questions the fact that the government used the same money that the United States allocated as aid to the country, to spy on Nicholas Casey, journalist The New York Times, who a year or so ago revealed the order of Army Commander Nicacio Martínez, who would revive the “false positives” in the country.
“Old habits die with difficulty, so there is something sadly surprising in the news that a Colombian Army unit used American surveillance equipment, provided to fight against the Marxist guerrillas and drug traffickers, to spy on journalists, political opponents and public figures, “the editorial states in its first paragraph.
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The column also refers to the increase in recent years, of coca crops and mentions the murder of social leaders, a situation for which they suppose that “the Army would do everything possible to show results.”
However, they point out that while “It is not yet clear who ordered the surveillance operation, the Colombian government and the high command of the army insist that they knew nothing., it is not difficult to understand why at least some elements of the army would want to see those who observe them. ”
The article also refers to revelations by The Wall Street Journal, which recently indicated that espionage or profiling (as it was called in Colombia) included listening devices and other equipment supplied by the United States. “The Journal also reported that members of the intelligence unit helped themselves with American money.. It is especially irritating that the resources provided to combat drug trafficking were used to spy on American journalists. ”
And they caution that the Pentagon must also address how it oversees aid. “For its own good and for its future, Colombia needs to ensure that its Army complies with strict rules of behavior.”
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Meanwhile, the editorial mentions that “President Iván Duque’s own credibility is also at stake“And they point out that,”Colombia needs to address not only embezzlement in its armed forces, when it is exposed by the pressbut also the culture of abuse and the feeling of being above the law that continues to infect the army. ”
And he criticizes the fact of having appointed as the Army commander a person questioned for his alleged relationship with the ‘False Positives’. “It makes little sense to report human rights violations and at the same time appoint an officer with the story of General Martínez Espinel, to lead the army. ”
At the end of the article, the newspaper assures that “the fight against rebel groups, (…) it cannot be a return to the civil wars that ravaged the country for at least half a century. That is something that President Duque, and his main foreign ally, should make clear. ”
