Footage of a video circulating on networks shows the military intimidating farmers in Tierralta.
The population of the village of Boca del Manso, in Tierralta, Córdoba, feared for their lives at midday on September 11th. A group of men carrying rifles and identifying themselves as guerrillas arrived at the scene, interrupting the community’s day-to-day work. Cell phone cameras recorded the incident and minors and pregnant women can be seen apparently affected by fear and verbal threats to some residents by the armed individuals. The events were exposed and at first the FARC was blamed, but soon the truth emerged: those who intimidated the civilians were members of the Colombian National Army, more specifically the Infantry Battalion No. 33 Junín. Outrage quickly swept the country and authorities recently announced their first findings.
General Luis Mauricio Ospina, army commander, referred to the events. He stated that ten soldiers were involved. “I have made the decision to withdraw the trust and responsibility of bearing the arms of the Republic and to separate the commanders from the high exercise of the dignity of command and control of the military unit.” He added that the prosecutor’s office and the The Attorney General’s Office will take criminal and disciplinary action.
This Wednesday, officials from both institutions, along with staff from the Ombudsman’s Office, traveled to the area to investigate and collect witness statements. During their transport by helicopter, they were attacked by a shotgun blast that hit the aircraft’s fuel tank and they had to change course to survey the damage. The 20 crew members remained unhurt and a few hours later the Gulf clan claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Attorney General Francisco Barbosa, who described the events in Tierralta as an event “reprehensible in accordance with the country’s human rights standards”, confirmed that he was appointing additional uniformed officers in addition to the ten who were temporarily released from prison Investigations have included duties. . “The urgent measures are being carried out despite the obstacles that various sectors want to put in place for this investigation. “We have already requested that 30 soldiers, two non-commissioned officers and one officer from the 11th Brigade Battalion of the 83rd Infantry Battalion be interrogated by the Prosecutor General’s Office,” he explained.
Although the investigation concerns the actions of members of the public authority, it is the prosecutor’s office and not the military criminal justice system that is responsible for carrying out the criminal acts, since, as General Ospina himself stated, “they are not acts of the public service.” ” For its part, the ombudsman’s office reported that it is investigating a complaint about an alleged case of sexual violence by soldiers.
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