31
members of the military.144 The Commission notes that a military report indicates that during said
operation “an alleged subversive woman of the Carlos Alirio Buitrago gang of the ELN was captured.”145
Major Guzmán said that in the afternoon of June 26 and [June] 27 “she stayed with the troops.”146 He
stated that on June 28, between noon and 3:00 p.m., he went with María Irene Gallego Quintero to the
Office of the Attorney General. Major Guzmán rationalized delaying for more than two days to take
María Irene to the Attorney General’s Office claiming that “the operation could not [..] be concluded
immediately in order to take her down from the area where the subversion was;” because “there was
no way to get helicopter support in because the weather did not allow it;” and because “the troops
were not ever going to split up.”147 The record shows that when he was asked about the documents to
corroborate his statements, he first answered that “it happened two years ago and I do not know where
those documents may have gone to.”148 Subsequently, he stated that all FTA documents were archived
at the Bárbula Battalion.149
104. According to a statement made by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney No. 29, on June 28,
1996, at 5 p.m. Major Guzmán appeared at the Prosecutorial Office Unit of El Santuario, Antioquia,
accompanied by María Irene Gallego Quintero.150 The Deputy Prosecutors reported that Major Guzmán
explained to her what had happened but did not submit “a report in support of the procedure he
followed, or any specific charges and it was not clear why he was appearing in the Office of the Attorney
General and why he was bringing in the young woman accompanying him.” Major Guzmán admitted
that he did not submit any document because “he thought that turning her over to the Office of the
144
Annex 15. Initial statement on the facts in response to the charges, given by Carlos Alberto Guzmán Lombana, File
233 UDH, dated February 13, 2001. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1, 2007; Annex 11.
Continuation of initial statement on the facts, given by Carlos Guzmán Lombana, to the National Human Rights Unit, dated
February 20, 2001. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 8. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24,
2010.
145
Annex 11. Report No. 2095/BR14-BIBAR-S3-375 addressed to the Commanding Officer of Infantry Battalion No. 3
Bárbula, dated June 28, 1996. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 8. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of
June 24, 2010.
146
Annex 15. Initial statement on the facts in response to the charges, given by Carlos Alberto Guzmán Lombana, File
233 UDH, dated February 13, 2001. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1, 2007; Annex 11.
Continuation of initial statement on the facts, given by Carlos Guzmán Lombana, to the National Human Rights Unit, dated
February 20, 2001. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 8. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24,
2010.
147
Annex 15. Initial statement on the facts in response to the charges, given by Carlos Alberto Guzmán Lombana, File
233 UDH, dated February 13, 2001. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1, 2007; Annex 11.
Continuation of initial statement on the facts, given by Carlos Guzmán Lombana, to the National Human Rights Unit, dated
February 20, 2001. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 8. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24,
2010.
148
Annex 12. Statement on the facts in response to the charges, given by Carlos Alberto Guzmán Lombana to the
Regional Directorate of Prosecutor’s Offices, Investigation Intake Section, dated March 26, 1998. Book No. 2. Pages 118-134.
Compact disk attached to petitioners’ communication of June 24, 2010.
149
Annex 15. Initial statement on the facts in response to the charges, given by Carlos Alberto Guzmán Lombana, File
233 UDH, dated February 13, 2001. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1, 2007; Annex 11.
Continuation of initial statement on the facts, given by Carlos Guzmán Lombana, to the National Human Rights Unit, dated
February 20, 2001. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 8. Compact disk attached to petitioners’’ communication of June 24,
2010.
150
Annex 42. Official Letter No. 812-29 from Assistant State’s Attorney 29, Olga María Ruiz Angarita, to the National
Human Rights Unit, dated April 1, 1997. Annex to petitioners’ submission received at the IACHR on February 1, 2007.