SHOOTING VICTIMS REQUEST INVESTIGATION AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 007224

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2017
TAGS: KJUS PGOV PHUM CO
SUBJECT: SHOOTING VICTIMS REQUEST INVESTIGATION AND
PROTECTION

REF: BOGOTA 6932

Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer.
Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) On September 17, Miguel and Ualberto Hoyos, leaders of
a resettlement effort for displaced persons near Curvarado
and Belen de Bajira, Choco department, were shot outside
their home by a man believed linked to new criminal groups
and local ranchers. The Hoyos brothers believe they were
targets for testifying in the trial of a murdered community
leader and for trying to reclaim land seized by former
paramilitaries. We visited them in the hospital in Apartado
on September 20, and met them again on October 1 in Bogota to
discuss their safety. We urged the GOC to provide
appropriate protection for the Hoyos and to conduct a full
investigation into the shootings. END SUMMARY.

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WITNESSES GUNNED DOWN
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2. (C) Miguel Hoyos testified May 15-17, 2007 against
paramilitaries in the murder trial of community leader
Orlando Valencia. Miguel's brother, Ualberto, was set to
testify at a later date in the ongoing investigation. On
September 17, armed men shot the Hoyos brothers outside of
Miguel's house. Both men, who are leaders of a resettlement
effort for displaced persons near Curvarado, Jiguamiando, and
Belen de Bajira on the border between Antioquia and Choco
departments, survived the attack. Local police passed the
house earlier, but Miguel said they did not respond to the
shooting. The Hoyos Brothers drove themselves (by
motorcycle) to the local hospital, where they were met by
police and provided protection. The police later transported
them to the hospital in Apartado and eventually to Bogota,
where Ualberto is still recovering. We visited Miguel and
Ualberto in Apartado hospital and spoke with Curvarado Police
Captain Vega about security arrangements and the need for a
full and transparent investigation.

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RESETTLEMENT EFFORTS PUT THEM AT RISK
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3. (C) The Hoyos brothers were displaced from their homes in
Mutata, near Belen de Bajira, by paramilitary violence and
intimidation. They later returned with other displaced
members of the community to find wealthy businessmen using
their land for ranches and prosperous haciendas. Ualberto
said the ranchers employed new criminal groups to prevent
them from returning and brought 180 campesino families from
other areas to settle on the land that belonged to the
displaced community. He said criminal groups exploit these
new squatters to obtain benefits from GOC programs for
displaced persons.


4. (C) The Hoyos told us displaced people who tried to return
to their homes have encountered violence, adding that new
criminal groups burned down several newly constructed homes
and a chapel. During the Orlando Valencia murder trial,
Miguel publicly denounced this activity. He also provided
the Colombian National Police (CNP),the Prosecutor General's
Office (Fiscalia),and the Colombian Army's 15th Brigade
Commander, with the names of the armed men as well as the
locations of ranches he said were being used by the criminal
groups. After testifying, the Fiscalia provided him with a
cell phone as a protection measure.

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VICTIMS REQUEST INVESTIGATION AND PROTECTION
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5. (U) After their arrival in Bogota in late September, the
Hoyos brothers asked Attorney General Mario Iguaran for
witness protection measures including armored cars and
bodyguards so they could return to their homes and continue
their resettlement efforts. They also met with Mr. Luzano at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),representatives of
Vice President Santos' office, Colonel Pinto of the 15th
Brigade, and Colonel Aragon, Human Rights Director for the
CNP. They urged these official to investigate the shooting,

protect displaced communities returning to their lands, and
punish those responsible for acts of violence and
intimidation.


6. (U) Miguel attended an Embassy reception in honor of the
human rights community in Colombia, and briefly spoke with
the Ambassador. We contacted the Fiscalia's Human Rights
Unit to urge a complete investigation and to urge that
protection measures be provided to the Hoyos brothers. We
will also follow up with General Naranjo at the CNP, Vice
President Santos' office, and the Ministry of Interior and
Justice's (MIJ) protection program.

Brownfield