US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA1999

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001999 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PTER, CO, Human Rts, Massacre 
SUBJECT: PEACE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FINDS NO THIRD MASSACRE 
SITE 
 
REF: BOGOTA 1918 
 
This message is sensitive but unclassified.  Please handle 
accordingly. 
 
1. (U) On March 1, local representatives from the Fellowship 
of Reconciliation (FOR) told Embassy that no third massacre 
site had been found, as had been previously reported 
(reftel).  Two separate commissions, each made up of members 
of the peace community, went to the towns of Las Nieves and 
La Esperanza on March 1 to check on the whereabouts of the 
presumed missing families.  Members of FOR accompanied the 
group to La Esperanza, a roughly three-hour walk from the 
peace community of San Jose de Apartado, located in Uraba, 
Antioquia Department.  The second commission traveled to Las 
Nieves, a slightly shorter walk from the community.  In both 
instances, the individuals presumed missing and killed were 
found alive. 
 
2. (SBU) The investigation into the confirmed February 21 
killings of eight individuals continues.  However, news 
reports that all eight were members of the peace community 
are incorrect, as only Luis Eduardo Guerra, his wife and son 
were members.  Four others were members of the newly formed 
&peace committee8 in the area.  Peace committee members are 
not members of the peace community, but, like community 
members, are working to convince peasants in their respective 
areas to declare neutrality from all of the armed groups 
(legal or illegal).  The eighth victim was not a member of 
either group. 
 
3. (SBU) Members of the Human Rights Unit of the Prosecutor 
General's Office ("Fiscalia") continue their investigations 
in the region.  Embassy officials plan to visit the peace 
community within the next two weeks and continue to follow up 
with all relevant actors. 
WOOD