Colombian Army Issues Apology For Civilian Deaths

In a significant and unprecedented move, Colombian army issued a formal apology on Tuesday for civilian deaths caused by soldiers as part of a strategy to artificially boost performance numbers during the fight against leftist guerrilla groups. The government has previously acknowledged that between 2004 and 2008, a total of 6,402 civilians lost their lives as a result of this policy. Shockingly, some of these civilians were dressed in guerrilla attire after their deaths. On Tuesday, during an event in Bogotá, Army Commander Luis Ospina extended an apology to the families of 19 of these victims, representing a fraction of the larger group. He expressed, "We acknowledge that painful acts were committed by members of the national army that should never have happened," further noting that these actions had tarnished the army's legitimacy. Facing the families of the victims, Ospina emphasized, "We offer our deep, sincere apology." The policy to artificially inflate army kill numbers through the use of civilian deaths included offering rewards to soldiers, such as additional leave days and decorations. Earlier in July, Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez had already issued an apology for one of the killings associated with this policy. President Gustavo Petro, in his statement on Tuesday, characterized the policy as tantamount to genocide and stated, "May rifles never again point at our people." Colombia's military had been engaged in a prolonged conflict with leftist rebel groups since the 1960s until a historic agreement was reached with the primary rebel group, known as FARC, in 2016. This apology marks a significant step in addressing past atrocities and acknowledging the need for reconciliation within the nation.