18 that the military would set up checkpoints and detain and beat civilians, including children, to get information from them about the location of the guerrilla members.44 Another witness said that the army would hold people in custody accusing them of being members of the guerrilla forces.45 According to the municipal ombudsman of El Carmen de Viboral, in 1996, members of the military forces would force peasants to retract their complaints of these incidents.46 72. Major Carlos Guzmán Lombana took over the command post of the FTA on May 1, 47 1996. 73. Based on information gathered during a judicial inspection visit to a military brigade, the FTA was decommissioned in July 1996 “because the units making it up took on responsibilities in other sectors.”48 A former FTA commander noted that the IV Brigade performed its task force duties up until December 1996 “even though the personnel patrolling the highways continued to be called the FTA.”49 1.3. Link between Self-Defense Forces of Magdalena Medio and the National Army 74. According to an investigation of the Office of the Attorney General, the operations of the Self-Defense Forces of Magdalena Medio were conducted “with the support of members of the to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999; Annex 21. Intelligence Report No. 164 of the Office of Information Analysis and Operational Support, Sectional Directorate of the Technical Investigation Corps of the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, dated November 13, 2006. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 1. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication th of June 24, 2010; Annex 7. Decision of the Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Eduardo Herrera Verbel, dated May 19, 1999. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 4. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010; Annex 22. Official Letter PM-044 from the Municipal Ombudsman of El Carmen de Viboral, Heli Gómez Osorio, of June 5, 1996. Case File No. 008-10799-98. Office of the Disciplinary Matters Deputy Inspector for Human Rights. Public Ministry for Judicial Oversight. Page 14. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of July 12, 2010; Annex 22. Official Letter PM-043 from the Municipal Ombudsman of El Carmen de Viboral, Heli Gómez Osorio, of May 28, 1996. Case File No. 008-10799-98. Office of the Disciplinary Matters Deputy Inspector for Human Rights. Public Ministry for Judicial Oversight. Page 16. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of July 12, 2010. 44 Annex 23. Statement of a woman resident of the village Vereda La Esperanza. Compact Disk of the Corporación Jurídica Libertad attached to petitioners’ submission of March 23, 2010. 45 Annex 24. Statement of María de la Cruz Hernández de Gallego to the National Human Rights Unit of the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, dated November 10, 2004. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 10. Pages 71-72. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010. 46 Annex 22. Official Letter PM-045 from the Municipal Ombudsman of El Carmen de Viboral, Heli Gómez Osorio, of June 12, 1996. Office of the Disciplinary Matters Deputy Inspector for Human Rights. Public Ministry for Judicial Oversight. Page 3. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of July 12, 2010. 47 Annex 11. Confidential form No. 4 of the Curriculum Vitae Section of the Army Command in Bogotá. Page 169. Book No. 8. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010. 48 th Annex 18. Report on judicial inspection visit to the 4 Brigade of the Army based in Medellín, conducted by the National Human Rights Unit, dated November 21, 2000. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 6. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010. 49 Annex 14. Statement of Hugo Alonso del Milagro Abondano Mican to the National Human Rights Unit, dated July 31, 1998; Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 3. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010; Annex 14. Statement of Hugo Alonso del Milagro Abondano Mican to the National Human Rights Unit, dated August 4, 1998. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 3. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010.