The Colombian authorities said on Friday that they are investigating an officer, Captain Francisco Javier Coral, after local television showed a video of the officer beating fellow soldiers.

Gen. Gustavo Matamoros, commander of the army's fifth brigade, told media that, "military forces do not justify abuse under any circumstances and... we have started investigating Coral for abusing junior officers."

Coral told media on Friday that the beatings were because the soldiers had lost a bet, and it was not an act of abuse. The soldiers had apparently agreed to compete in dismantling and arming their rifles, with the winners receiving days off and the losers receiving a sore backside.

Corporal Alexander Castaneda videotaped the contest on his cellphone and passed them to the Caracol television channel. He said he had spoken to his superiors about abuse in the brigade in December, and had received threats after publishing the video.

Dario Mejia, the public prosecutor in charge of the case, said that he was charging Coral with torture and human rights violations.

"We know that these practices are customary in some institutions, but I think human rights are there to civilize us," Mejia said.

Source: Xinhua