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