97. It is clear from the evidence141 and from some expert opinions that the FARC 57th Front was present in the area of the Caño Seco village and the banks of the Salaquí River, as well as in the general area of the district of Bajirá. Specifically, the expert witness offered by the State, Colonel María Paulina Leguizamón Zarate, indicated, without this being challenged by the representatives or the Commission, that the criminal actions of this FARC front “affected the inhabitants of the region, because it perpetrated kidnappings, murders, and other types of activities […] against the civilian population and members of the Armed Forces.”142 In addition, there was information that, on January 16, 1997, 10 marines were kidnapped when their patrol was attacked in the place knows as El Rota;143 and also that, on January 9, 1997, the municipality of Riosucio was seized by the guerrilla. 144 Furthermore, there was also information that, around the same time, the Armed Forces were present in the area in which the events of the instant case occurred, mainly in the region of Urabá, with Units of the Navy, the Urabá Police Command, and the Army’s 17th Brigade, headquartered in Carepa, Antioquia;145 the latter under the command of General Rito Alejo del Río Rojas.146 Disputed facts 98. According to an initial version of the facts, based on evidence in the case file provided by State institutions and other sources, “towards the end of 1996, the Armed Forces […] launched, together with […] the AUC, a campaign to eradicate the guerrilla forces from the region of Bajo Atrato,” in order “to regain control of the territory where the guerrilla were present in the Cacarica river basin,”147 and this campaign tried to prevent the guerrilla forces from obtaining support from the civilian population, especially that of the communities that lived near the tributaries of the Atrato River, areas where, traditionally, the FARC maintained a strong presence. According to that version of the events, the Army had initially placed controls on the Atrato River imposing strict limits on the quantity of products that the residents of these communities could transport. The economic blockade lasted several months and had been followed by a series of joint operations by the Army and the paramilitaries, which resulted in the massive displacement of many communities of the municipality of Riosucio, in the region of Bajo Atrato.148 9, 2009, to the 122nd and 48th Regional Prosecutors delegated to the Justice and Peace judges (evidence file, folios 17198 and 17199). 141 Cf. Colombian Military Forces, National Army, 17th Brigade, Report of March 6, 1997 (evidence file, folio 5529). 142 “Operation Genesis Report” cited in the affidavit dated January 31, 2013, prepared by María Paulina Leguizamón Zarate, expert witness proposed by the State (evidence file, folio 15422). 143 Cf. “Operation Genesis Report” cited in the affidavit dated January 31, 2013, prepared by María Paulina Leguizamón Zarate, expert witness proposed by the State (evidence file, folio 15422) and Colombian Military Forces, National Army, 17th Brigade Operations Order No. 004 “Genesis”, February 1997 (evidence file, folio 1406). 144 Cf. Ombudsman’s Office, Press communiqué No. 127 of January 11, 1997 (evidence file, folio 51392), and Patrol report prepared by Major M. P. T. M., Commander of Special Forces Battalion No. 1,” cited in the affidavit dated January 31, 2013, prepared by María Paulina Leguizamón Zarate, expert witness proposed by the State (evidence file, folio 15423). 145 Cf. Ombudsman’s Office. Decision No. 025 of the Ombudsman on the massive human rights violations and forced displacement in the Bajo Atrato region of Chocó, October 2002 (evidence file, folio 230). Also, Eighth Criminal Court of the Bogota Special Circuit, file 2009-063, defendant Rito Alejo del Río, judgment of August 23, 2012 (evidence file, folio 14804). 146 Cf. Public Prosecution Service, Appeal for review No. 30510 filed before the Supreme Court of Justice, Criminal Cassation Chamber on February 18, 2009 (evidence file, folio 1065). Eighth Criminal Court of the Bogota Special Circuit, file 2009-063, defendant Rito Alejo del Río, judgment of August 23, 2012 (evidence file, folio 14804). 147 Amnesty International, Colombia. Return to hope - forcibly displaced communities of Urabá and Medio Atrato region, June 2000 (evidence file, folio 1157). 148 Cf. Eighth Criminal Court of the Bogota Special Circuit, file 2009-063, defendant Rito Alejo del Río, judgment of August 23, 2012 (evidence file, folio 14805). See also Voluntary confession of Fredy Rendón of April 30, 2010, in case 36