In a public hearing of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) in Colombia, eight former members of the Armed Forces appeared and admitted their responsibility in the disappearance and murder of 47 innocent people between 2002 and 2006, in what are known as ‘false positive’ cases. These individuals were charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity after having presented the victims as “combat casualties” and having buried them in the “Las Mercedes” cemetery in the municipality of Dabeiba, department of Antioquia.
The hearing, which covers the cases of “false positives” and crimes in the sub-region of Urabá, includes the participation of the victims and their families, who share their stories, demands, and questions. The JEP has indicated that this hearing seeks to establish the truth and the responsibility of each of those involved in these atrocious crimes.
The former military personnel charged, considered to be the “most responsible” in this case, include high-ranking officers and professional soldiers. Some of them participated in the selection of the victims, others in their execution, and others in the legalization and cover-up of the crimes. In addition to these eight main perpetrators, 17 other members of the security forces involved in various ways in the killings and enforced disappearances are also under investigation.
Among those responsible who admitted their participation are Colonel Efraín Prada Correa, retired Major Yair Leandro Rodríguez Giraldo, retired Major Hermes Alvarado Sáchica and three retired sergeants from the Counter-Guerrilla Battalion No. 79. However, two other colonels, Jorge Alberto Amor Páez and David Herley Guzmán Ramírez, refused to accept their responsibility and faced an adversarial process through the Investigation and Accusation Unit (UIA) of the SJP.
This acknowledgement hearing is being held in Dabeiba as a symbolic reparation measure requested by the victims and will last until June 29. During the day, the first chapter of a documentary mini-series that addresses the horrors uncovered in Dabeiba by the JEP was also presented. The institution will publish this series on its digital platforms on June 28.