The Audio Long Read From the archive: The false positives scandal: how thousands of innocent Colombians were killed so soldiers could get more holiday
Feb 5, 2025
Dive into Colombia's haunting false positives scandal, where innocent lives were tragically lost as military leaders sought glory. Discover the powerful personal story of a mother searching for her missing son amidst a backdrop of political turmoil and urgent calls for justice. The dark legacy of operations like Orion and Jaque reveals a complex web of military strategy, human rights abuses, and societal consequences. This gripping narrative unpacks the struggles for accountability in a nation grappling with its past sins.
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Jaime Castillo's Story
- Jacqueline Castillo discovered her brother Jaime's body in a mass grave in 2008.
- He was falsely labelled as a guerrilla fighter, but he was actually a homeless beggar.
False Positives Scandal
- The "false positives" scandal involved Colombian soldiers killing innocent civilians and labelling them as enemy combatants.
- This was driven by a policy that rewarded soldiers with money, medals, and leave for high body counts.
General Montoya's Role
- General Mario Montoya, a celebrated military hero, oversaw the peak of the false positives killings.
- He is now under investigation by Colombia's war crimes tribunal, potentially facing 20 years in prison.