Torres preparing trees to plant at a nursery in Bogota, Colombia. — AFP
ONCE confined to jail over the killings of hundreds under his watch, former Colombian general Henry Torres now spends his days planting trees and otherwise free.
Like dozens of other alleged war criminals in the South American country, 61-year-old Torres is participating in an alternative sentencing programme that some victims’ families decry as a “mockery” of justice.
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Restaurative justice
Torres was one of those responsible for the murder of hundreds of civilians killed in combat and later presented as rebels.
Arteaga, sister of Kemel Arteaga, a victim of the extrajudicial executions: 'I can understand the symbolic nature of the issue of the trees, but it does not repair what was done.'
Former Colombian Major Gustavo Soto, one of those responsible for the murder of hundreds of civilians killed in combat and later presented as rebels, planting trees in Usme, south of Bogota.
Colombia is testing an unprecedented "restaurative justice" programme that imposes alternative prison penalties for those most responsible for war crimes, despite rejection by some of the victims.
A former Colombian military officer planting trees in Usme, south of Bogota. — AFP
Former Colombian military officers walking on a field while carrying out tree planting works in Usme. — Photos: AFP
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