A. The petitioners’ position 9. The petitioners allege that on January 28, 1994, Mr. Noel Emiro Omeara Carrascal and Mr. José Erminson Sepúlveda Saravia, Clerk at the Mayor’s Office in the Municipality of Aguachica, were assaulted by a group of armed men in civilian dress. Mr. Sepúlveda Saravia was killed in the attack and Mr. Omeara Carrascal was gravely wounded. 10. On August 26, 1994, Mr. Noel Emiro Omeara Carrascal died from the wounds sustained in the assault. The petitioners allege that prior to his death, Mr. Omeara Carrascal told his son, Guillermo Omeara Miraval, that the assailants were members of the Army’s Anti-Extorsion and Kidnapping Unit (UNASE). They further allege that Guillermo Omeara Miraval conducted a series of inquiries and was able to ascertain the identity of the UNASE members allegedly responsible for the attack, who were stationed at the Aguachica military base. 11. The petitioners allege that on August 27, 1994, Mr. Guillermo Omeara Miraval was stopped by a group of heavily armed men wearing camouflage uniforms. He was forced into a blue pickup truck with a canvas cover. The petitioners further allege that a number of people from the area witnessed the incident. The petitioners also state that Guillermo Omeara Miraval has not been seen since. 12. Guillermo Omeara Miraval’s next of kin allegedly informed police authorities and the Attorney General of the forced disappearance of Guillermo Omeara Miraval, and named members of the UNASE group based at Aguachica as the responsible parties. 13. The petitioners’ account states that the body of Guillermo Omeara Miraval was found on September 23, 1994, at the “La Granja” ranch located 10 kilometers from the Municipality of San Martín. The 1 petitioners allege that the body showed signs of torture. They also report that a flag was found next to his body bearing the acronym AGC, which is that of a paramilitary group active in the municipalities of San Martín and Aguachica. They report that members of the UNASE had allegedly worked with paramilitary groups active in the region. 1 In their original petition of April 28, 1995, the petitioners told the Commission that there was evidence of torture over Guillermo Omeara Miraval’s entire body. Specifically, they stated that his face had been burned with acid, that his toenails had been pulled out, that his genitalia had been mutilated and that he had been shot four times.