17
71.
On September 2, 2003, interviews were held with José Héctor Chavarriaga and Isabel Muñoz
de Torres Meira, who did not witness the events but heard the gunshots, as well as with Xavier Ricardo Moran
Ferrer who went to the aid of the alleged victims. 81 Also, on September 2, 2003, and interview was held with
Luz Marina Márquez Frontado, who stated that on September 1, 2003, a man called the office and made
threats against the Vicariate’s director, Linmay del Carmen Basabe Pérez and against Monsignor Ramiro Díaz
Sánchez, Vicar of Machiques.82 On September 5, 2003, interviews were held with the employees of the
Apostolic Vicariate of Machiques Luz Marina Márquez Frontado and Linmay del Carmen Basabe Pérez, as well
as with a collaborator of the Vicariate, Fanny Machado Beltrán; they described the work done by Joe Luis
Castillo González.83
72.
In her interview Luz Marina Márquez Frontado was asked the following about the security
situation of Joe Luis Castillo González:
Please state if the aforementioned Joe Castillo ever received any threats from any individual, civil
servant, or organization as a result of the work that he did? ANSWER: Not that I am aware; however,
we were twice visited by the DISIP to check that we worked. Yeli[tze] also talked to them.84
In addition, Linmay del Carmen Basabe Pérez was asked the following in an interview:
Please state if you were ever aware that, as a result of his work, the lawyer Joe Luis Castillo made
enemies who might have intended to do him harm. ANSWER: I have no knowledge of that and what is
more, the work that we do there is humanitarian and does no harm to anyone.85
73.
On September 10, 2003, Assistant Police Chief Rafael Viloria attached to Machiques CICPC
recorded the following in a police report:
[…] I received a telephone call from a citizen who identified himself as Juan Palacios […] he feared
reprisals and told me the following: that, in relation to the recent murders in this area, including that of
the lawyer Joe Castillo […] a number of individuals belonging to a group of paramilitaries from the
border city of Cúcuta had taken part in same, and of these he mentioned the following […] Giovanni
[…], Paton […] Charris or el Sobrino […] Emer, alias Parabólica […] said individuals travel in a burgundy
Cherokee coupé pickup, license plate ACV-84G […] this person also informed me that said individuals
move around among the population of Machiques.86
81
Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, record of
interview with José Héctor Chavarriaga, Isabel Muñoz de Torres Meira, and Xavier Ricardo Moran Ferrer, September 2, 2003, pp.
42, 43, and 44. Annexes to the petitioners’ brief received at the IACHR on June 3, 2008. Not contested by the State.
82
Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, police report,
September 2, 2003, p. 44. Annex to the petitioners’ brief received at the IACHR on June 3, 2008. Not contested by the State.
83
Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, record of
interviews with Luz Marina Márquez Frontado, Linmay del Carmen Basabe Pérez, and Fanny Machado Beltrán, September 5, 2003,
pp. 47-51. Annexes to the petitioners’ brief received at the IACHR on June 3, 2008. Not contested by the State.
84
Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, record of
interview with Luz Marina Márquez Frontado, September 5, 2003, pp. 47 and 48. Annex to the petitioners’ brief received at the
IACHR on June 3, 2008. Not contested by the State.
85
Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, record of
interview with Linmay del Carmen Basabe Pérez, September 5, 2003, p. 49. Annex to the petitioners’ brief received at the IACHR
on June 3, 2008. Not contested by the State.
86
Office of the 20th Public Prosecutor for the Judicial District of the State of Zulia, Case 24-F20-817-2003, police report,
September 10, 2003, p. 83. Annex to the petitioners’ brief received at the IACHR on June 3, 2008. Not contested by the State.