Colombia cancels planned NATO appointment amid spying scandal

Colombia’s government has cancelled plans to appoint former army chief Nicacio Martinez a NATO military attache after the Defence Ministry sacked 11 officials in a probe into allegations of spying by the army, Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said on Monday.

The United Nations said on Sunday it was “deeply concerned” that sectors of the army were suspected of spying on magistrates, politicians, government officials, journalists, trade unionists, human rights activists and other members of the military.

The weekly Semana reported on Friday that the army hacked or wiretapped at least 130 people last year, collecting information about their addresses, contacts and families.

The journalists reportedly included several US ones, while the spies allegedly used funds from cooperation with the United States for the purpose.

Holmes Trujillo then announced the dismissal of 11 military personnel in response to the media report, which also prompted the resignation of a general.

The spying is alleged to have happened between February and December under Martinez, who stepped down in late December, citing family reasons.

His handling of the army command had come under criticism, after he was linked to alleged extrajudicial killings of civilians. His resignation also came after initial information emerged about the spying scandal, according to Semana.

Holmes Trujillo denied reports that Martinez had already been formally appointed to the NATO post and said he would not be appointed.

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The government had “zero tolerance” for spying, the minister told broadcaster Caracol. The allegations are under investigation and “my hand will not shake” in punishing the culprits if wrongdoing is discovered, he added.

Martinez told Caracol he accepted the government’s decision and denied any involvement in the alleged spying.

There have been several hacking scandals involving the military in Colombia in recent years. (dpa)