Colombia-Military
11-24-1995
^By ANDREW SELSKY=
^Associated Press Writer=
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) _ A power struggle in the top ranks of Colombia's military has exposed internal feuds in the normally secretive institution and triggered fears of a coup.
Commanders loyal to President Ernesto Samper _ who has been weakened by a political scandal _ won the first round recently when a handful of generals who opposed him were forced to retire, according to military affairs experts. But renegades inside or close to the security forces may be aiming to destabilize the government.
Defense Minister Juan Carlos Esguerra said these elements were possibly involved in the Nov. 2 assassination of Alvaro Gomez Hurtado, a former senator and ambassador to Washington.
"There are some indications ... that some people linked to security forces could have had something to do with that deed," Esguerra said in an interview Thursday. Among the signs: a car carrying soldiers was seen in the Bogota neighborhood where Gomez was gunned down.
A shadowy group calling itself "Dignity for Colombia" claimed responsibility for the killing, and for an attack in September that wounded an attorney defending Samper against accusations he used Cali drug cartel money to win 1994 elections.
There several theories about the group. One is that they are drug traffickers angry at Samper for taking their money and then jailing six cartel leaders this year. A second theory is that right-wing elements in the government or military want to destabilize the government and impose their own rule. And some speculate that members of Samper's inner circle ordered the attacks to distract attention from the president's political troubles.
Esguerra said rebels and common criminals are also possible suspects.
Colombia's military has rarely interfered openly in politics. They have mounted only two coups this century. But coup rumors were so prevalent in recent weeks that military leaders took pains to publicly deny them.
A purge this month of four generals loyal to Gen. Harold Bedoya, the commander of the army who has had tense relations with Samper, strengthened the hand of the armed forces commander, Gen. Camilo Zuniga, analysts said.
Zuniga is a strong Samper ally.
But the generals who were ousted in what the government called a "routine" change of command did not go down quietly. Several complained they were being ousted despite spotless records.
One told reporters that Zuniga, tipped off that rebels were operating in the countryside near a farm belonging to one of his relatives, ordered an assault on Oct. 20. Three soldiers were killed by their fellow troops and eight were wounded. No rebels were in the area.
Esguerra acknowledged mistakes were made.
"It was regrettable and absurd," Esguerra said, but added that the problems resulted from the operation's execution, not because Zuniga had ordered it.
The purge of the generals apparently resolved one power struggle in the military, but it put the armed forces more firmly into the hands of those who back a president accused of corruption.
And with Samper distracted by his political scandal, other fights might break out in the top ranks.
"Those who watch the bulls from the bullring wall are convinced that there are still worse days to come," said the newsmagazine Semana.
^By ANDREW SELSKY=
^Associated Press Writer=
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) _ A power struggle in the top ranks of Colombia's military has exposed internal feuds in the normally secretive institution and triggered fears of a coup.
Commanders loyal to President Ernesto Samper _ who has been weakened by a political scandal _ won the first round recently when a handful of generals who opposed him were forced to retire, according to military affairs experts. But renegades inside or close to the security forces may be aiming to destabilize the government.
Defense Minister Juan Carlos Esguerra said these elements were possibly involved in the Nov. 2 assassination of Alvaro Gomez Hurtado, a former senator and ambassador to Washington.
"There are some indications ... that some people linked to security forces could have had something to do with that deed," Esguerra said in an interview Thursday. Among the signs: a car carrying soldiers was seen in the Bogota neighborhood where Gomez was gunned down.
A shadowy group calling itself "Dignity for Colombia" claimed responsibility for the killing, and for an attack in September that wounded an attorney defending Samper against accusations he used Cali drug cartel money to win 1994 elections.
There several theories about the group. One is that they are drug traffickers angry at Samper for taking their money and then jailing six cartel leaders this year. A second theory is that right-wing elements in the government or military want to destabilize the government and impose their own rule. And some speculate that members of Samper's inner circle ordered the attacks to distract attention from the president's political troubles.
Esguerra said rebels and common criminals are also possible suspects.
Colombia's military has rarely interfered openly in politics. They have mounted only two coups this century. But coup rumors were so prevalent in recent weeks that military leaders took pains to publicly deny them.
A purge this month of four generals loyal to Gen. Harold Bedoya, the commander of the army who has had tense relations with Samper, strengthened the hand of the armed forces commander, Gen. Camilo Zuniga, analysts said.
Zuniga is a strong Samper ally.
But the generals who were ousted in what the government called a "routine" change of command did not go down quietly. Several complained they were being ousted despite spotless records.
One told reporters that Zuniga, tipped off that rebels were operating in the countryside near a farm belonging to one of his relatives, ordered an assault on Oct. 20. Three soldiers were killed by their fellow troops and eight were wounded. No rebels were in the area.
Esguerra acknowledged mistakes were made.
"It was regrettable and absurd," Esguerra said, but added that the problems resulted from the operation's execution, not because Zuniga had ordered it.
The purge of the generals apparently resolved one power struggle in the military, but it put the armed forces more firmly into the hands of those who back a president accused of corruption.
And with Samper distracted by his political scandal, other fights might break out in the top ranks.
"Those who watch the bulls from the bullring wall are convinced that there are still worse days to come," said the newsmagazine Semana.
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