30
any complaints and to keep “their mouths nice and shut because whoever opened their mouth is a
goner.”136
102. Next, the IACHR summarizes the account of Major Guzmán and other members of the
military forces regarding these incidents. Mayor Guzmán testified that “in the early morning hours”
they arrived in an area that “they couldn’t say or determine,” where there was a house.137 Capitain
Cárdenas indicated that it was located in “the general area of Cocorná [and] he does not remember the
site.”138 In a military report, it is stated that the troops “arrived in a residence where the order was
given to surround it so it could then be searched.”139 It is claimed that unidentified individuals at said
premises began to shoot and therefore a confrontation ensued. Capitain Cárdenas noted that “visibility
was very poor because of the fog” and that he was wounded as a result of the gun fight and therefore
he had to leave and walk down the Medellín-Bogotá highway and he arrived in the hospital of El
Santuario to be treated.140 It must be mentioned that a military report indicates that there is no record
of these wounds 141 and that the San Juan de Dios del Santuario Hospital has said that after reviewing its
files, it found no record of medical treatment provided to this individual.142 When Major Guzmán was
asked about the events which took place at the residence of José Gallego Quintero, he replied that “the
army did not go to this house” and that “perhaps the people or family members give this information
under threat or bribes from the guerrillas.”143
103. Regarding the situation of María Irene Gallego Quintero, Major Guzmán admitted that
she was found in a house located along the upper leg of the highway and was taken from there by
136
Annex 30. Statement of José Eliseo Gallego Quintero to the Office of the Municipal Ombudsman of El Carmen de
Viboral, dated July 19, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999; Annex 21. Statement of María Florinda
Gallego Hernández to the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, Cocorná, dated October 25, 1996. Case File No. 233
UNDH. Book No. 1. Pages 90-92. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24, 2010.
137
Annex 15. Initial statement on the facts of Carlos Alberto Guzmán Lombana in response to charges, File 233 UDH,
dated February 13, 2001. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1, 2007; Annex 11. Continuation
of initial statement on the facts given by Carlos Guzmán Lombana, to the National Human Rights Unit, dated February 20, 2001.
Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 8. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24, 2010.
138
Annex 11. Statement of César Augusto Cárdenas Gonzáles to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Bogotá, dated
February 19, 2001. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 8. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24,
2010.
139
Annex 7. Administrative report on injuries, No. 051, signed by Major Hugo Abondano Mikan, dated November 1,
2006. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 4. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24, 2010.
140
Annex 11. Statement of César Augusto Cárdenas Gonzáles to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Bogotá, dated
February 19, 2001. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 8. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24,
2010.
141
Annex 14. Report No. FGN CTI SI GDH C4-C13 of the Technical Investigation Corps of the Office of the Attorney
General of the Nation, dated February 1, 1999. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 3. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’
communication of June 24, 2010.
142
Annex 70. Submission of the medical coordinator of San Juan de Dios Hospital, Luis Henry Baquero, addressed to
Liliana Uribe Tirado, dated November 14, 2008. Annex to petitioners’ submission of November 30, 2009.
143
Annex 15. Initial statement on the facts in response to the charges, given by Carlos Alberto Guzmán Lombana, File
233 UDH, dated February 13, 2001. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1, 2007; Annex 11.
Continuation of initial statement on the facts, by Carlos Guzmán Lombana, to the National Human Rights Unit, dated February
20, 2001. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 8. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24, 2010.