communities of the Salaquí and Cacarica river valleys,175 which resulted in the displacement of
peasants from the Cacarica, Jiguamiandó, Curbaradó, Domingodó, Truandó and Salaquí river
valleys, among others.176 According to this version, the paramilitaries participated in the
operation, entered the area through Cacarica and carried out joint or coordinated actions with
the Army.177
104. Consequently, in parallel to Operation Genesis, at the end of February 1997, a group of
paramilitaries composed of members of the Chocó Group and the Pedro Ponte Group had
advanced from the Los Katios National Park along the Cacarica River, passing through Bijao and
other communities located in the basin of that river, to finally arrive at the Salaquí and Truandó
Rivers, at exactly the same time as Operation Genesis was being executed. That operation is
known as “Operation Cacarica.”178
105. According to this version of the events, during “Operation Cacarica” and, as mentioned,
the paramilitaries entered the settlement of Puente América179 where they set up a road block
where they searched the people and then “sent them” to Turbo, telling them that, once there,
“they would be received by the Police and taken to the Turbo Sports Arena, and that is what
175
Cf. Testimony of C.M.R., before the Prosecutor General’s Office, Human Rights and International Humanitarian
Law Unit, of December 11, 2002 (evidence file, folio 612); Testimony of J.B.V.P., before the Prosecutor General’s Office,
Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Unit, of December 19, 2002 (evidence file, folio 620). 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 231). Similarly, the voluntary
confessions, statements and testimony provided before the Prosecutor General’s Office, National Human Rights and
International Humanitarian Law Unit, by J.B.V.P. on December 19, 2002; Diego Luis Hinestroza Moreno on August 29,
2008; Luis Aristarco Hinestrosa on April 13, 2007; J.A.Q. on March 3, 2007, and November 4, 2008; William Manuel
Soto Salcedo on April 29, 2010, and December 5, 2011, and A.M.V. on September 7, 2005 (evidence file, folios 619 and
ff.; 1463 and ff.; 17341, 17388, 17539, 17899, 17702 and 17457). See also, voluntary confessions and testimony of
Fredy Rendón Herrera on October 24, 2007, November 7, 2007, March 13, 2009, and April 29, 2010, before the
Prosecutor General’s Office, National Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Unit (evidence file, folios
18373, 17636, 17365, 17509, 18374 and 17917).
176
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 231). See also, Prosecutor
General’s Office, proceeding Marino López Mena, case file 2332, volume 1 (evidence file, folio 17199), Voluntary
confession of Edwin Alberto Romero Cano of March 24, 2011, before the Prosecutor General’s Office, National Human
Rights and International Humanitarian Law Unit (evidence file, video “Subclips candidates 2), and Eighth Criminal Court
of the Bogota Special Circuit, file 2009-063, defendant Rito Alejo del Río, judgment of August 23, 2012 (evidence file,
folios 14808 and 14810).
177
Eighth Criminal Court of the Bogota Special Circuit, file 2009-063, defendant Rito Alejo del Río, judgment of
August 23, 2012, and Testimony of Fredy Rendón of May 12, 2011 (evidence file, folios 14806, 14808, 14809, 14810).
See also, statements and voluntary confessions made before the Prosecutor General’s Office, National Human Rights
and International Humanitarian Law Unit of: C.A.F. Alvarez on May 8, 2008, L.A.C.L. on September 7, 2005, William
Manuel Soto Salcedo on December 5, 2011 and April 29, 2010, Julio Cesar Arce Graciano on April 28, 2010, Edwin
Alberto Romero Cano on March 24, 2011, Alberto García Sevilla on August 29, 2008, Franklin Hernandez Seguro on
August 6, 2008, and Fredy Rendón on March 13, 2009, and April 28, 2010 (evidence file, folios 1471, 18396, 17460,
17700, 17701, 17895, 17896, 17541, 17874 and 17877 and Video “Subclips candidates 2. Operation Genesis. Voluntary
confession Edwin Alberto Romero Cano recorded at 4:47, Alberto García Sevilla, Franklin Hernandez Seguro recorded at
0:19 and 2:10 and Fredy Rendón recorded at 3:03 and 4:00). The Prosecutor General’s Office, Powerpoint presentation
and Organizational structure “Operation Cacarica” (evidence file, folios 19263 and 45234).
178
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 14808). See also the statements and voluntary confessions made before the
Prosecutor General’s Office by Fredy Rendón Herrera on August 15, 2008, March 13, 2009, and April 29, 2010; William
Manuel Soto Salcedo on April 9, 2008, and April 29, 2010; Diego Luis Hinestroza Moreno and Alberto Gacía Sevilla on
April 29, 2010; Luis Muentes Mendoza on April 22, 2008, and Rubén Dario Rendón Blanquicet on July 17, 2008
(evidence file, folios 43324, 17914 to 17917, 19236 to 19244, 19177 to 19179, 19182 and 19183, 19185, 19187 to
19189, 19248, 19249 and 19251 and Video “Subclips candidates 2. Operation Genesis. Voluntary confession Fredy
Rendón). Lastly, see also The Prosecutor General’s Office, Powerpoint presentation and organizational structure
“Operation Cacarica” (evidence file, folios 19255 to 19259, 19263 and 45234).
179
Cf. Preliminary arguments presented by L.J.M., legal representative of Father J.G., before the Prosecutor
General in proceedings 5767 against retired General Rito Alejo del Río Rojas por crimes against humanity (evidence file,
folio 1285).
40
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