50
the facts (see supra para. 85).276 He also indicated that his son Omar told him that the missing persons
from La Esperanza village “were guerrilla collaborators and others [were] full guerrilla members” and
that their bodies were dumped into the Calder, Magdalena and Samaná rivers.277
160. On May 8, 2007 the Superior Court of Bogotá ruled on an appeal filed by the defense
attorney of Ramón Isaza denying the motion to suspend deprivation of liberty and indicating that “based
on the evidence gathered in the investigation, it has been established that the disappearances (…) were
committed by paramilitary (…) groups (…) commanded by Ramón María Isaza (…), [and the] organization
appears to have received the collaboration of the military forces.”278
161. On January 21, 2008, judicial investigators reported that Omar de Jesús Isaza, son of
Ramón Isaza Arango, died; that one of the military officers named by Ramón Isaza - Alfonso Manosalva
Flores – was the commander of the 4th Brigade at the time of the events and that he died in 1997;279 and
that there were three majors in the area with the last name mentioned by Ramón Isaza, that is, the last
name Hernández, one of whom died in 2004; another one worked in the administrative section; and
another one was the chief of operations of the Pedro Nel Ospina Battalion and he was retired.280
162. The date set for the pubic confession hearing of Ramón Isaza was postponed several
times for alleged health problems and finally took place on October 16, 2008. Mr. Isaza restated the
events narrated in his prior statements and provided information about the child Andrés Suárez Cordero
as described above (see supra para. 119).281 With regard to the alleged victims, he said that “they were
guerrilla collaborators.” He also stated that he ordered all of the notebooks and books of the SelfDefense Forces of Magdalena Medio to be burned. At this hearing, the attorney for the victims’ families
contended that he has not accepted responsibility for being the intellectual author behind the crimes
and, consequently, should not receive the benefits under the Justice and Peace Law. The attorney
voiced his disagreement with this hearing because the right to the truth has not been satisfied. The
Inspector General also asserted that “there is a responsibility of the State” for the participation of a
coronel and a major.282
276
Annex 3. Initial statement on the facts of Ramón Isaza Arango to the Office of the Special Prosecutor attached to
the National Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Unit, dated April 23, 2007. Annex to the submission of the
petitioners of May 7, 2007; Annex 32. Addendum to the initial statement on the facts of Ramón Isaza Arango to the National
Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Unit, dated October 15, 2008. Annex to petitioners’ submission received on
November 21, 2008.
277
Annex 3. Initial statement on the facts of Ramón Isaza Arango to the Office of the Special Prosecutor attached to
the National Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Unit, dated April 23, 2007. Annex to the submission of the
petitioners of May 7, 2007.
278
Annex 66. Decision on appeal of the Unit of the Office of the Attorney General Delegate to the Superior Court of
Bogotá, dated May 8, 2007. Case File No. 233 UNDH. Book No. 11. Pages 258-267. Compact disk attached to petitioners’
communication of June 24, 2010.
279
Annex 67. Report No. 380494 DI. UNDH-DIH.CTI of the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Unit,
dated January 21, 2008. Annex to petitioners’ submission received on November 30, 2009.
280
Annex 67. Report No. 380494 DI. UNDH-DIH.CTI of the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Unit,
dated January 21, 2008. Annex to petitioners’ submission received on November 30, 2009.
281
Annex 5. Public confession hearing on statement of facts of Ramón Isaza, dated October 16, 2008. Compact disk
attached to State’s communication of September 25, 2009.
282
Annex 5. Public confession hearing on statement of facts of Ramón Isaza, dated October 16, 2008. Compact disk
attached to State’s communication of September 25, 2009.