BOGOTA, Colombia -- The commander of Colombia's army resigned abruptly Tuesday in a widening scandal over the killing of scores of civilians, allegedly spurred by promotion-seeking officers to inflate rebel body counts.

Gen. Mario Montoya, who won wide acclaim for the bloodless hostage rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors on July 2, did not mention the scandal as a factor in his retirement after 39 years of service.

Amnesty International has issued an appeal for urgent action for Norma Cruz, director of the Guatemalan foundation 'Sobrevivientes' (Survivors), her collegues and family who have suffered acts of intimidation as well as death threats.

You can view further information about the case on the Amnesty website:

amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR34/022/2008/en

Article published by Inter Press Service, September 2008.

BOGOTA, , Sep 5 (IPS) - As of this week, there is one less human rights defender in the northwestern Colombian region of Bajo Atrato. Jimmy Jansasoy of the Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission was forced to flee the area, where oil palm plantations have encroached on the collectively-owned jungle territories of traditional black communities.

MEDELLIN, Colombia -- Gen. Mario Montoya has for years been a trusted caretaker of the sizable aid package Washington provides Colombia's army, leading helicopter-and-commando teams that eradicated drug crops and helping orchestrate this summer's dramatic rescue of hostage Ingrid Betancourt and three captured U.S. defense contractors from Marxist rebels.

For the past two years, residents of San Juan Sacatepéquez have been demanding the right to be informed and take part in decision-making processes related to the construction of a cement plant and quarry.