Homicides
of Alberto Sánchez and Luis Alberto Rincón
The crimes took place on the road
to Cuesta Rica rural district, in El Playón, department of Santander,
on November 28, 1999. In May 2000 a warrant for the arrest and preventive
detention of Orlando Sánchez-Calderón, alias Camuro, José-León
Morales-López, alias Chejo, and Gregorio Castillo, alias Goyo, was
issued for their alleged responsibility in these homicides.
Patascoy Military
Base
On December 21, 1997, a 400-strong
group of the FARC’s Southern Block stormed a military base in the Patascoy
mountain, on the border between Nariño and Putumayo, where an Army
Communications Station is located. Soldiers belonging to the Batalla de
Boyacá Infantry Battallion were stationed in that place. 22 soldiers
were killed in the attack and 18 were taken hostage by the FARC. In February
1998 the Human Rights Unit of the Prosecutor General’s Office conducted
a preliminary hearing in connection with this case. Two members of the
FARC were linked to it and summoned for questioning. Ten high-ranking members
of the FARC were subsequently linked to the case and summoned for questioning.
They are Luciano Marín, alias Iván Marqués, Rodrigo
Londoño, alias Timoleón Jiménez or Timochenco, Jorge
Briceño-Suarez, alias Mono Jojoy, Pedro-Antonio Marín, alias
Manuel Marulanda-Vélez or Tirofijo, Guillermo-León Saénz-Vargas,
alias Alfonso Cano, Milton de Jesús Toncel-Redondo, alias Joaquin
Gómez, José-Benito Cabrera-Cuevas, alias Fabián Ramirez,
Luis-Edgar Devia, alias Raúl Reyes, Luis-Gonzalo Mavisoy-Guatapotoy
and another individual.
Puracé massacre
On November 4, 1994, heavily-armed
men ambushed three patrols which were on their way to the Chapio mines,
in the municipality of Purace, department of Cauca. A bus belonging to
the Don Bosco School happened to arrive at the scene at the time of the
attack. As a result of it one officer, one non-commissioned officer, nine
policemen and two students were killed. Through a resolution of February
2000 the Prosecutor General’s Office ordered Tiberio Serpa-Diaz, alias
Comandante Julio, of the FARC’s 6th Front, to be placed in preventive detention
for rebellion, terrorism, homicide for terrorist ends and inflicting personal
injury for terrorist ends.
Members of a gnostic
religious group
In May 1999 in the municipality
of Puerto Rico, department of Caquetá, members of the FARC’s Teófilo
Forero group kidnapped 17 persons, including some members of a gnostic
religious group and inhabitants of the area. Among those kidnapped were
four children, released later on. As FARC commander Laurentino was willing
to admit, 12 adults were subsequently executed. In February this year the
Human Rights Unit of the Prosecutor General’s Office ordered Pedro Nel
Daza, alias Laurentino, to be placed in preventive detention for kidnapping,
extortion and aggravated homicide.
Homicide of Captain
Wilson Quintero and other members of the National Police
On March 23, 1998, the guerrillas
kidnapped several members of the National Police anti-narcotics squad who
had just conducted an operation against drugs trafficking. They tried to
escape from their place of captivity but were chased, found and killed
in “Alto de las Cruces”, department of Vichada, on September 17, 1999.
In March 2000 the Prosecutor General’s Office issued a resolution ordering
the arrest and preventive detention of Nolberto Núñez for
complicity in aggravated homicide.
Homicide of Father
Alcides Jiménez
The murder of priest Alcides Jiménez
took place on September 11, 1998 in Puerto Caicedo, department of Putumayo.
In july 1999 the Prosecutor General’s Office ordered a preliminary inquiry
to be conducted, and issued an arrest warrant against Arley Leal, commander
of the FARC’s 32nd Front. Another investigation was launched into charges
of negligence against the state for failing to provide protection. Currently
at a preliminary stage, it is conducted by the Attorney General’s Ofice.
The case is being considered by the Special Committee on cases.
Massacre of Vigía
del Fuerte
It took place in Vigía del
Fuerte munipality, in Urabá region, department of Antioquia, on
March 25, 2000, when 400 armed men attacked the town with gas cylinders.
The attack left 21 members of the police dead. The mayor, his bodyguard
and six civilians were also killed. Seven police officers were taken hostage
and another four people were injured. Several weapons were stolen. In April
an order was issued for Luis-Fernando Zapata-Hinestroza, member of the
FARC’s 34th Front, to be arrested and kept in preventive detention for
his alleged role in multiple homicide for terrorist ends in concurrence
with multiple kidnapping, aggravated robbery, damage to other people’s
property and rebellion.