Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

August 29, 2008 4:09:42 CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Colombia to Pay Ex-Rebel $2.5M for Slaying

Posted Mar 15, 08 11:51 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Colombia will pay the former FARC rebel who killed his commander last week part of a $2.5 million reward—a move critics say amounts to payment for murder, the BBC reports. Guerrilla Pedro Pablo Montoya shot his boss, then cut off his hand as proof. He will share the money with three others who provided intelligence information.

“We pay for information and other types of collaboration,” said Colombia’s defense minister. Montoya also surrendered his commander's computer, which contained "very valuable information,” the government said. Colombia hopes the reward leads to FARC infighting, and even Montoya has said it will encourage other rebels to follow his example. “The FARC is in trouble,” one Latin American specialist told Bloomberg.

Sources BBC, Bloomberg

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Red Cross Cries Foul Over Colombia Deception

    Aug 6, 08 3:14 CDT
    Red Cross Cries Foul Over Colombia Deception The Red Cross chided the Colombian government today for its "deliberate misuse" of the Red Cross symbol during a mission to rescue hostages, the BBC reports. “If authenticated, these images would clearly establish an improper use of the Red Cross emblem, which we deplore,” a spokesman said of footage from the July 2 mission that freed politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 others. More »

  • Captors Turned Brutal After Betancourt Escape Attempt

    Jul 7, 08 12:50 CDT
    Captors Turned Brutal After Betancourt Escape Attempt Ingrid Betancourt and the other former hostages of Colombia’s FARC faced aggression and abuse from their captors—and each other, CNN reports. Rebels were relatively cordial until Betancourt and former Colombian legislator Luis Perez made an escape attempt in 2005, surviving for 5 days in the jungle before they gave up. More »

  • Betancourt Outlines 'Diabolic Behavior' By Rebels

    Jul 4, 08 4:51 CDT
    Betancourt Outlines 'Diabolic Behavior' By Rebels Speaking after her arrival in Paris today, Ingrid Betancourt says she was tortured during her 6 years as a hostage of Colombian rebels, the New York Times reports. “I was in chains all the time, 24 hours a day, for three years,” she said, describing "diabolical behavior" by her captors. “I tried to wear those chains with dignity, even if I felt that it was unbearable.” More »

  • Disorganized Rebels Duped By Hostage Rescuers

    Jul 4, 08 2:15 AM CDT
    Disorganized Rebels Duped By Hostage Rescuers The Colombian military's daring rescue of FARC guerilla hostages relied on increasing disarray within the rebel ranks, the New York Times reports. Latin America's longest-running insurgency has suffered a near-total communications breakdown in recent months. With the command structure in chaos and rebels depending on "medieval" communications methods, the time was right for the army to pounce. More »

  • Military Doc: Contractors In Good Condition

    Jul 3, 08 9:30 CDT
    Military Doc: Contractors In Good Condition The three American hostages rescued after more than five years in captivity in Colombia are in good physical and psychological shape, the Washington Post reports. The defense contractors, who arrived at a military base in Texas last night, were held by Colombian rebels in “very cruel and very spartan” conditions but are doing well and “in great spirits,” military officials said. More »

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe ordered a reward paid to a former rebel who killed his commander.   (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe ordered a reward paid to a former rebel who killed his commander.   (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Pedro Montoya killed his boss, Ivan Rios, a top leader of the FARC rebel group, and surrendered to Colombian troops with his boss's severed right hand, laptop computer and ID as proof.   (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 2)

Tags

murder  • Colombia  • FARC  • Alvaro Uribe  • Colombian rebels  • Raul Reyes  • Juan Pablo Montoya



Today's Most Popular


Other World Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »