25 At that time, the members of the Cacarica river communities were pointed out as belonging to the 68 guerillas. 69 124. From the statements of some demobilized members of paramilitary groups before the 70 UDH-FGN and members of the Army, it is apparent that at the time when the facts of the case took place, there were coordinated operations between the paramilitaries and the National Army in the Urabá area. 3. "Operation Genesis" and Paramilitary Raids 125. Between February 24 and 27, 1997, a counter-insurgency operation called "Operation 71 Genesis" took place. On February 24, 1997, the Air Force, together with troops of the National Army's XVII Brigade, commenced the military operation with aircraft and helicopter flights and the indiscriminate 72 73 bombardment of the communities in the Salaquí and Cacarica river basins, causing the displacement …continuation Report of the UNHCHR of the Colombia Office, 54th Period of Sessions of the Human Rights Commission E/CN.4/1998/16, March 9, 1998, para.103. At: http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.1998.16.En?Opendocument. Annex 27. Cf. Amnesty International. Colombia. Return to Hope: the Displaced Communities of Urabá and Medio Atrato, June 2000. At: http://www.amnesty.org/es/library/info/AMR23/023/2000/es. See also: Annex 5. Manuel Ramírez's statement before the Special Commission of the National Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Unit, December 11, 2002. Annex 3 to the petitioners’ brief dated March 10, 2008. 68 Annex 2. Ombudsman’s Office. Ombudsman’s Resolution No. 025 on the Massive Human Rights Violations and Forced Displacement in the Bajo Atrato Region of Chocó, October 2002. Annex to the initial petition of June 1, 2004. See also: Annex 14. Report of the UNHCHR of the Colombia Office, 54th Period of Sessions of the Human Rights Commission E/CN.4/1998/16, March 9, 1998, para.103. At: http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.1998.16.En?Opendocument. Cf. Annex 27. Amnesty International. Colombia. Return to Hope: the displaced Communities of Urabá and Medio Atrato, June 2000. At: http://www.amnesty.org/es/library/info/AMR23/023/2000/es. 69 The demobilized paramilitary Heber Veloza García declared that “at the time that Mr. Rito Alejo was the commander of the XVII Brigade, I met with him at the brigade to coordinate operations in the rural area of Urabá”. Annex 28. First interrogation before the Human Rights Unit on October 10 and 15, 2008. Annex 6 to the petitioners’ brief received on May 19, 2009. The demobilized paramilitary Fredy Rendón Herrera stated that “during our military campaign in the self-defense groups there were at times some relations with some sectors of the Security Forces”. Annex 29. First interrogation before the Human Rights Unit on October 8, 2008. Annex to petitioners’ brief of March 23, 2009. 70 Moisés Machado Córdoba, a member of the XVII Brigade Infantry Battalion No. 46 'Voltígeros' since November 1997, declared that "General Del Río's relation with the paramilitaries was very close and he coordinated operations with them; everybody in Urabá saw it and knows it. One of the things that worried me most was that the General used to lend them range so that they could practice; it's just as I confirmed what people said and my suspicions and the media and what the ONGs said, it was true that the Army worked closely with the paramilitaries, among them General RITO." Annex 30. Statement before the UDH-FGN of July 28, 1999. Annex 2 to the initial petition of June 1, 2004. 71 Objectives of Operation Genesis: 1. Tamboral, 2. La Loma, 2A Playa Bonita, 3. Regadero, 4. Bocas del Guineo, 4. Caño Seco, 5. Tequerré, 6. Puente América, 7. La Nueva, 8. Clavellino. Annex 32. Annex 2 to the Note of the Foreign Ministry, August 27, 2009. Cf. Annex 31. Official Act No. 01018 DIVIl-BR 17-B3-375 of March 6, 1997, pp. 1 and 2. Annex 8 to the petitioners’ brief of March 10, 2008. 72 Cf. Annex 14. Report of the UNHCHR of the Colombia Office, 54th Period of Sessions of the Commission for Human Rights, E/CN.4/1998/16, of March 9, 1998, para. 103. At: http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/E.CN.4.1998.16.En?Opendocument. 73 Annex 33. Prequalifying allegations presented before the Prosecutor General's Office in proceedings 5767, by Leonardo Jaimes Marín, legal representative of Father Javier Giraldo, requesting that an indictment decision be laid against General (ret.) Rito Alejo del Río Rojas for crimes against humanity, p.14. Annex 9 to petitioners' brief of March 10, 2009. Cf. Annex 34. Statement made by Fredy Rendón in case files 1042 and 3856 of the UDH on November 7, 2007. Annex 7 to the petitioners' brief received on May 19, 2009. Annex 2. Ombudsman's Office Ombudsman’s Resolution No. 025 on the Massive Human Rights Violations and Forced Displacement in the Bajo Atrato Region of Chocó, October 2002. Annex to the initial petition of June 1, 2004. Cf. Annex 5. Cruz Manuel Ramírez, before the Special Commission of the UDH and DIH on December 11, 2002, Annex 3 to the petitioners' brief dated March 10, 2008. Cf. Annex 6. Statement of José Bermudis Valderrama Perea before the Special Commission of the UDH of December 19, 2002, Annex 4 to the petitioners' brief dated March 10, 2008. Annex 35. Prosecutor's Charge in the partial indictment hearing of Luis Muentes Mendoza, Courts of Justice and Peace in Medellin. Annex 3 C to the Note of the Foreign Ministry, August 27, 2009.