SANTO DOMINGO.- Colombia’s recently appointed Ambassador on Wednesday said he voluntarily chose to come here and step down from his post of Chief of Staff of his country’s Army, despite being at the center of an investigation into alleged killings of civilians to reportedly “balloon” the body count in that South American nation’s bloody conflict with leftists guerillas and rightist paramilitary.

Mario Montoya, currently facing an investigation into alleged human rights violations, said that its usual for some commanders including Police, once they retire to be designated in different countries, “because the President (Alvaro Uribe) feels that I can still serve my country.”

“After being the Army Commander for three years, 40 in active duty, it was time to go,” he said, after clarifying that he was “disheartened” with the launching of the investigation.

Interviewed by Cesar Medina on Channel 9, the retired Colombian general also said he was proud of having headed the operation to get the release of 11 Police agents and Army soldiers, who spent more than 10 years in captivity by the guerilla group FARC, the ex presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and several foreign contractors.

Asked why the release of those hostages resulted fairly easy and revealed an operational weakness by the guerillas, Montoya said “we managed to infiltrate them and intercepted their communications, they weren’t weak.”

As to the participation by the United States or other countries in the operation, the retired officer said “zero”. “There was much support for other previous operations; it was a priority for the United States, but not in this one.”

As to the process that culminated in the guerillas entering the cocaine business, Montoya said the guerilla took over the cocaine-producing regions in 1990, when the powerful Cali and Medellin cartels surged, and later to control the crops, then the production and finally its marketing

He said his Government aims to “control” the various guerilla movements, although clarified that regarding drug trafficking, the goal is “eradication.”

Colombians love Dominicans, thank Fernandez

He said Colombians are grateful to president Leonel Fernandez for his leadership in the negotiations which led to the defusing the crisis sparked by Colombia when its troops entered Ecuador’s territory during a military pursuit of a FARC contingent.

The diplomat said there were other “destinations” he could’ve chosen to be ambassador, but decided on this country “for being Dominican Republic. It’s a very special destination for all Colombians; last year 39,000 Colombians came here, the Dominican people are very special, we are well received, the only thing I’ve received here is kindness.”

Related articles: www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2009/3/3/31269/Colombias-ambassador-in-Dominican-Republic-linked-to-disappearances; www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2009/2/20/31162/Dominican-supporter-of-terror-group-fears-Colombian-general