PEACE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FINDS NO THIRD MASSACRE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001999 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PTER CO 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