Caracas) and the main road across the plains (Bogotá-Villavicencio-Yopal-Tame-Saravena). In addition, this municipality is the distribution point for land traffic towards Puerto Rondón, Cravo Norte and Fortul.48 The hamlet of Santo Domingo is in the last-mentioned municipality.49 54. In 1998, Santo Domingo was a village in the rural area of the municipality of Tame with a population of 247 persons living in around 47 houses50 located beside the highway that leads from Tame to the capital of the department.51 55. Regarding aspects relating to economic geography, there is no dispute about the fact that petroleum exploitation is one of the most important economic activities of the department.52 In 1983, the multinational company, Occidental Petroleum Corporation (hereinafter “OXY”), discovered the Caño Limón oilfield.53 Ever since its discovery, OXY has been operating the Caño Limón oilfield, and the oil is transported by the Caño Limón–Coveñas pipeline operated by the Colombian company, ECOPETROL S.A.54 56. In addition, there is no dispute that the armed conflict in Arauca is closely related to the revenue derived from the oil and the location of the Caño Limón-Coveñas pipeline;55 this is also a transit area for both legal and illegal merchandise and goods bound for Venezuela.56 These factors make this region strategically important, and have resulted in the establishment of illegal armed groups since the 1980s.57 57. As alleged by the representatives, observed by the Commission, and acknowledged by the State, in 1998, a situation of generalized violence existed in the department of Arauca, which affected both the civilian population and the civil authorities.58 In addition, during the 1990s, there was increased militarization in the department of Arauca.59 48 Cf. Information available at: http://www.tame-arauca.gov.co/nuestromunicipio.shtml?apc=mIxx-1&m=f#geografia (visited on September 26, 2012). Electronic link cited by the representatives in the pleadings and motions brief (merits file, tome 1, folio 124). 49 Cf. Human Rights Observatory of the Presidential Program on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Algunos indicadores sobre la situación de derechos humanos a septiembre de 2004 en el departamento de Arauca (evidence file, tome 2, folios 172 and ff.). 50 Cf. Note from the President of the Municipal Association of Community Action Committees of Tame, department of Arauca of July 18, 2012 (evidence file, tome 51, folio 28048). 51 Cf. Information from the “Joel Sierra” Regional Human Rights Committee in the petitioners’ brief of August 15, 2006, received by the IACHR on August 21, 2006, p. 8 (evidence file, tome 5, folio 2570. 52 Cf. Human Rights Observatory of the Presidential Program on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Algunos indicadores sobre la situación de derechos humanos a septiembre de 2004 en el departamento de Arauca (evidence file, tome 2, folio 2826). 53 Cf. Official website of OXY Colombia. Information available at September 26, 2012, at: http://www.oxy.com/ OurBusinesses/OilAndGas/LatinAmerica/Pages/colombia.aspx. Electronic link cited by the Commission in the Merits Report (merits file, tome 1, folio 16). 54 Cf. Ecopetrol S.A. is a mixed economy commercial company, organized as a national limited company (sociedad anónima), attached to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, under the provisions of Law 1118 of 2006, governed by the articles of incorporation which are contained in Public Deed No. 5314 of December 14, 2007, granted by the Office of the Second Notary of the Notary Circuit of Bogotá D.C. Information available at: http://www.ecopetrol.com.co/ contenido.aspx?catID=30&conID=38178 (visited on September 26, 2012). Electronic link cited by the Commission in the Merits Report (merits file, tome 1, folio 16). 55 Cf. Human Rights Observatory of the Presidential Program on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Algunos indicadores sobre la situación de derechos humanos a septiembre de 2004 en el departamento de Arauca (evidence file, tome 2, folio 173), and the State’s answering brief (merits file, tome 2, folio 398). 56 Cf. Human Rights Observatory of the Presidential Program on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Algunos indicadores sobre la situación de derechos humanos a septiembre de 2004 en el departamento de Arauca (evidence file, tome 2, folio 173). 57 Cf. Human Rights Observatory of the Presidential Program on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Algunos indicadores sobre la situación de derechos humanos a septiembre de 2004 en el departamento de Arauca (evidence file, tome 2, folio 174). 58 In this regard, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated, in general, in relation to the general situation of the country, without referring specifically to the events of Santo Domingo, that “[i]n their counter- ‐ 18 ‐