31
97. Approximately in 1983, members of the National Army built the model village or colony in
Chichupac, which was inhabited by those captured during the persecution in the mountains, by
civilians who entered voluntarily once they were offered an “amnesty” and by people who were
forced to return under threat of having their land confiscated if they did not do so. 95 In this
colony, people lived in precarious conditions with other families, under strong military control.
They had to ask for permission to work their land and the soldiers did not allow them any
freedom. They were also forced to work to support the military, for example, by planting
vegetables. The women, in particular, were forced to prepare the soldiers’ food and wash their
clothes, while the men were forced to patrol the area. 96 In addition, some women were raped.
Between 1986 and 1987, members of the National Army abandoned the colony. For its part, the
Family Integration Center (hereinafter “CIF”), 97 through the Promotion and Human Development
Program, provided materials to the residents so that they could rebuild their homes. Thus, some
people were able to resettle in the area. 98 The CIF also implemented coffee production projects
for these families and provided some animals. 99
98. However, in 1999, some people still maintained that the surviving population continued to
live in fear and receive threats, and that those responsible for the massacre continued “stealing
and raping the women of the communities.” 100 Even today, several people claim that they have
not been able to return to their lands and reconnect with their community and their culture due
to the fear, violence, suffering and persecution they experienced in the communities, the loss of
all their belongings and the fact that they have nowhere to live, so they have been forced to
remain displaced. Moreover, since the military stole their documents proving land ownership, or
else these were destroyed when the soldiers burnt their houses down, some residents said that
they had not been able to recover their land because other people live on it and that the original
owners cannot claim the land without documents and in the absence of help from the State. 101
B.7. Disappearance and identification of Hugo García Depaz, Abraham Alvarado, Manuel
de Jesús Alarcón Morente and Edmundo Alarcón Morente, disappearance of Adrián
García Manuel and Leonardo Cahuec González, and arrest of Miguel Chen Tahuico on
January 18, 1982
99. After being recruited as members of the PAC, on January 18, 1982, Adrián García Manuel,
his son Hugo García Depaz and his nephew Abraham Alvarado Tecú (or Agapito Alvarado Depáz)
left their home in the village of Chichupac in order to carry out a patrol. However, they were
intercepted by members of the National Army who detained them and locked up in the village
school of Chirrum. When Juana García Depaz, daughter of Adrián García, found out that her
Cf. Statements from community members who lived in the model village of Chichupac, and from other local residents
who stated that they knew that members of the National Army built that colony, received in the context of the criminal
investigation on October 25, 2000, July 2, 12 and 27 and August 16, 2005, and rendered by affidavit on October 28,
and December 1, 11, 12, 15 to 19, 22, 23, 26, 27, and 29 to 31, 2014 (evidence file, folios 439 to 6164).
96
Cf. Statements from community members who lived in the model village of Chichupac, received in the context of
the criminal investigation on July 27 and August 16, 2005 and rendered by affidavit on December 11, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23
and 26 to 31, 2014 (evidence file, folios 1195 to 6151), and statement of Juana García Depaz at the public hearing held
on April 28, 2016.
97
At that time it was a non-profit private law entity that did not belong to the public administration and was not part
of the State structure.
98
Cf. Statements from community members who received help from the CIF, rendered by affidavit on December 27
and 29 to 31, 2014 (evidence file, folios 6016, 6025, 6081, 6126, 6136, 6141 and 6151), and affidavit of Miguel Chen
Tahuico of May 30, 2016 (evidence file, folios 11905 to 11907).
99
Cf. Statement of Miguel Chen Tahuico of May 30, 2016 rendered by affidavit (evidence file, folios 11905 to 11907).
100
Cf. Statements from community members indicating that the persecutions continued, received in the context of the
criminal investigation by the assistant prosecutor on April 27, 1999 (evidence file, folios 608, 612 and 614).
101
Cf. Statements from community members who have not been able to return to their lands, rendered by affidavit on
August 14, 21 and 22, September 1, October 24, November 24, and December 8, 10, 19, 22, 23 and 30, 2014 (evidence
file, folios 5532 to 6130), and statement rendered by affidavit (affidavit) of Miguel Sic Osorio presented before the InterAmerican Court on April 20, 2016.
95