3 Carlos Vargas-Pizarro, Agent Ramón de Freitas Albert Vrede Fred M. Reid; for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: Oliver H. Jackman, Delegate David J. Padilla, Delegate. Although the hearing was convened for the purpose of dealing with the preliminary objections, the Government used it to accept responsibility for the events giving rise to the instant case (infra 22). II 11. The petition filed with the Commission on January 15, 1988, indicates that the events reported occurred in Atjoni (landing stage of the village of Pokigron, District of Sipaliwini) and in Tjongalangapassi, off kilometer 30 in the District of Brokopondo. In Atjoni, more than 20 male, unarmed maroons (bushnegroes) were beaten with rifle-butts by soldiers who had detained them under suspicion that they were members of the Jungle Commando. Some of them were seriously wounded with bayonets and knives. They were forced to lie face-down on the ground while the soldiers stepped on their backs and urinated on them. 12. According to the petition, these events occurred in the presence of some 50 persons. Both victims and witnesses came from Paramaribo. In order to return to their village, they had to pass through Atjoni. All of them denied that they belonged to the Jungle Commando. The Captain of the village of Gujaba made a point of telling Commander Leeflang of the Army that the persons in question were civilians from several different villages. Commander Leeflang ignored this information. 13. After the events at Atjoni, the soldiers allowed some of the maroons to continue on their way. However, seven of them, including a 15-year old boy, were blindfolded and dragged into a military vehicle and driven towards Paramaribo along the Tjongalangapassi road. Before leaving, a soldier declared that they would celebrate the end of the year with them. The names of the persons taken away in the military vehicle, their place of origin and birth dates (in some cases) are as follows: Daison Aloeboetoe, of Gujaba, born on June 7, 1960; Dedemanu Aloeboetoe, of Gujaba; Mikuwendje Aloeboetoe, of Gujaba, born on February 4, 1973; John Amoida, of Asindonhopo (resident of Gujaba); Richenel Voola, alias Aside or Ameikanbuka, of Grantatai (found alive); Martin Indisie Banai, of Gujaba, born on June 3, 1955; and Beri Tiopo, of Gujaba. 14. The petition goes on to state that the vehicle stopped on reaching kilometer 30 and that the soldiers ordered the victims to get out. Those who did not were forcibly dragged out. They were given a spade and ordered to begin digging a short distance away from the road. When one of the victims asked what they were digging for, one of the soldiers answered that they were going to plant sugar cane