14 and that appear in the case file before the IACHR, members of the armed forces can be seen stiking defenseless demonstrators. 7 83. Although the attack on Mr. Vélez destroyed his video camera, the film remained intact and the attack was recorded. This footage, which later received widespread coverage, shows that various individuals in fatigues and military boots surrounded and attacked Mr. Vélez while shouting phrases such as "take out the f[…]ing cassette". 8 84. The attack on Mr. Vélez stopped when another soldier intervened to break up the aggression and helped the journalist to reach his colleagues.9 Mr. Vélez lost consciousness and was taken from the scene in an ambulance. As a result of the attack, he suffered various injuries, inter alia a ruptured liver, the loss of one testicle and several fractured ribs, and he remained in hospital for several days and then incapacitated at home for an additional period of two weeks. 10 85. High-ranking officers of the Colombian Armed Forces, among them General Harold Bedoya, Commander of the National Army, and Brigadier General Nestor Ramírez Mejía, Commander of the 12th Brigade, initially denied that the attack had been committed by members of the Army. 11 Nevertheless, General Bedoya and the Defense Minister Juan Carlos Esguerra later acknowledged the Army's responsibility and offered apologies to Mr. Vélez. 12 The State of Colombia also acknowledged in the context of the present case that the attack on Mr. Vélez was perpetrated by members of the National Army, due to the journalist's refusal to hand over his video camera. 13 Events Subsequent to August 29, 1996 86. After August 29, 1996, Mr. Vélez and his wife Aracelly Román Amariles say they received a series of threats and acts of harassment. 14 These acts of harassment included intimidating telephone calls, written threats, the following of their son Mateo Vélez Román, and visits to the Vélez Román family home by unknown individuals purporting to be employees of the Procurator General of the Nation's Office and asking about Mr. Vélez's schedule. 15 Mr. Vélez also alleges having suffered an attempted kidnapping on October 6, 1997, and that on that day the bodyguards assigned by the State did not turn up at this home. 16 Finally, he alleges that the threats and acts of harassment significantly increased after he made a statement to the criminal 7 Initial Petition received on July 29, 2005, Annex 6, Vélez Video, minute 3:30 and following. 8 Initial Petition received on July 29, 2005, Annex 6, Vélez Video, minute 3:53 and following. 9 Initial Petition received on July 29, 2005, pp. 6-9. Facts recognized by the State of Colombia in its brief received on August 4, 2009, p. 27. 10 Initial Petition received on July 29, 2005, pp. 6-9 and Annex 10, Medical Reports of Luis Gonzalo Vélez Restrepo. Facts not denied by the State of Colombia. 11 Initial Petition received on July 29, 2005, Annex 6, Vélez Video, minute 10:00 and following, and minute 11:00 and following. 12 Initial Petition received on July 29, 2005, Annex 6, Vélez Video, minute 6:15 and following and minute 12:15 and following; Annex 8, “Trouble for Blows to Press Freedom", El Mundo, August 31, 1996; Annex 15, “Agreement in Caquetá”, El País, August 31, 1996. 13 14 State’s brief received on August 4, 2009, p. 4. Initial Petition received on July 29, 2005, pp. 12-16 15 Initial Petition received on July 29, 2005, pp. 12-16. 16 Initial Petition received on July 29, 2005, pp. 16.