23 85. In his initial statement on the facts in response to the charges, Ramón Isaza noted that members of the military forces asked his son Omar to conduct joint operations against EPL members and collaborators. He claimed that a meeting was held in Medellín, where his son Omar received a list of at least 78 persons, who lived along the Medellín-Bogotá highway. Ramón Isaza indicated that he had seen this list and that, even though he felt it was not sufficient to launch the operation, his son Omar said to him that “he was going to execute it because [he knew] with whom he was going to be working.” He testified that “from that point on, Omar and el costeño [aka Fredy] and Omar’s boys and Army people worked together.” He added that Omar, along with members of the Self-Defense Forces of Magdalena Medio, were lodged at the La Piñuela military base at least twenty days prior to conducting the operations. He stated that the paramilitary forces received “government issue camouflage” and at least fifteen military men were used to provide support to the operations.80 86. A witness testified that in early June 1996 “the army had gone from house to house finding out a lot of stuff before these incidents began to happen (...); they would find out who collaborates with the guerrilla forces (...); and they would ask why [the guerrillas] come here a lot.”81 One witness also noted that at the time of the facts of the case, FTA members “spent a lot of time in the company of the paramilitary members.”82 Witnesses and family members of the alleged victims stated that at the time when the disappearances were committed “the military troops were (…) watching everything.“83 3.1 Disappearance of Aníbal de Jesús Castaño Gallego and the child Oscar Zuluaga Marulanda on June 21, 1996 87. Aníbal Castaño Gallego was the owner of a community store in Vereda La Esperanza. One witness testified that because of his line of business, the military forces would accuse him of selling supplies to the members of the guerrilla forces.84 According to the testimony, on June 21, 1996, members of the National Army went to the community store where Aníbal de Jesús Castaño Gallego was present.85 It was noted that they said to him that “they were going to finish off all stores so that the guerrilla forces would not have anywhere to purchase anything” and that “he would have to leave it all 80 Annex 3. Initial Statement on the facts of Ramón Isaza Arango responding to the charges, given to the Office of the Special Prosecutor assigned to the National Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Unit, dated April 23, 2007. Annex to petitioners’ submission of May 7, 2007. 81 Annex 21. Complaint filed by Andrés Antonio Gallego Castaño with the Municipal Criminal Court of Cocorná, dated July 11, 1996. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 1. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010. 82 Annex 24. Statement of Jhon Fredy Castaño Gallego to the National Human Rights Unit of the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, dated November 8, 2004. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 10. Pages 81-85. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010. 83 Annex 33. Statement of Juan Carlos Gallego Hernández to the Office of the Municipal Ombudsman of Cocorná, dated June 30, 1996. Annex to petitioners’ communication of July 1, 1999. 84 Annex 24. Statement of Diosdado Quintero Giraldo to the National Human Rights Unit of the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic, dated November 8, 2004. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 10. Pages 64-70. Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010. 85 Annex 22. Statement of Florinda de Jesús Gallego Hernández to the Office of the Municipal Ombudsman of El Carmen de Viboral, dated July 19, 1996. Case File No. 008-10799-98. Office of the Disciplinary Matters Deputy Inspector for Human Rights. Public Ministry for Judicial Oversight (Ministerio Público). Pages 50-54. Compact Disk attached to petitioners’ communication of July 12, 2010.