5
year. The State added that on September 29, 2010, the beneficiary had been contacted.
She confirmed the receipt of the corresponding money and reported that "she would soon
be moving to a city close to Medellin with her relatives: Alba Mery Naranjo Jiménez,
Heidy Tatiana Naranjo Gómez, Esteban Torres Naranjo, Alejandro Naranjo Jiménez and
Erika Johana Gómez”. The remaining beneficiaries "are still for the moment in Medellin’s
Comuna 13,” because of which the State indicated that it will continue to implement "the
measures for security and protection such as the permanent post, the communication
measures, and the escorts."
10.
As far as the protective measures implemented by the State, the representatives
confirmed that the National Police check point continued to be permanent at the home of
Ms. Mery Naranjo. However, they observed that the operation of that post continues to
be irregular despite the complaints submitted over the poor performance of the police
officers, who act in an arbitrary fashion, ignore their guard duty, and commit disciplinary
infractions, putting at risk the lives of the beneficiaries. Because of this, "changes in
personnel and in the instructions given to police officers in charge of guarding [them] are
needed urgently.” Likewise, they indicated that Ms. Mery Naranjo is being tasked with the
maintenance of the permanent post, including carrying out urgent on-sight repairs and
supervising the performance of the police officers, things that “are sole and exclusive
obligations of the State and […] should in no way be placed on the beneficiaries […],
given that this distorts the purpose of the [measures]." In May of 2010, they indicated
with regard to the Avantel radios for communication with the National Police and the
permanent post at the residence of the beneficiary that the State had not put them in
operation. For this reason, the police officer designated as the "link" for guarding Ms.
Mery Naranjo and the officer at the permanent post at her residence have not been
provided with that means of communication. 7 In general, they expressed that "the
material measures for protection at the hands of the National Police have been
insufficient and have from the moment of their implementation suffered serious problems
that have put the lives and integrity of Ms. Mery Naranjo and her family in danger.
11.
Regarding the police contact or agent provided to the aforementioned beneficiary
under “Plan Godfather," the representatives have expressed repeatedly since October of
2009 that "the person in charge of guarding Ms. Mery Naranjo does not have a fluid and
permanent relationship with [her]." Additionally, they indicated that the transportation
support that was being provided to the beneficiaries as a protective measure was
unilaterally suspended starting in the month of June of this year by virtue of Decree 1740
of 2010, placing the life and integrity of Ms. Mery Naranjo at grave risk given that
movement and travel from her home via public transportation is difficult and she is forced
to travel through the neighborhood, causing grave danger. This, according to the
representatives, violates Colombia’s commitments and obligations to guarantee her
protection and that of her relatives while they are traveling. They indicated that on the
occasions when they have needed the escort offered by the State for their trips (supra
Considering 8), “the contact official does not respond or the station commander is not
there or there are no officers available," for which reason they do not understand why
the State needs that information (infra Considering 12). Consequently, they insisted that
"as of this date there is no permanent measure guaranteeing their mobility and therefore
their security." Finally, in communication dated November 24, 2010 (supra Having Seen
9), they indicated that with regard to the measure providing aid for temporary relocation
indicated by Colombia, it had proved insufficient because the State had not applied the
law to its full extent and had limited itself to handing over "economic aid worth two legal
7
The representatives indicated in communication sent in October of 2009 (supra Having Seen 3) that,
given technical difficulties with the Avantel indication equipment, on July 29, 2009, the State had replaced them
for beneficiaries Mery Naranjo Jiménez ane María del Socorro Mosquera (infra footnote 8). However, they
indicated that under the commitments made by the State in the follow-up and coordination meetings on these
measures (infra considering 20), Colombia must hand over two additional Avantel radios, one for the connection
with the national police and the other two remaining in the permanent post located at the residence of Ms. Mery
Naranjo Jiménez in order to guarantee communication between the beneficiaries and police officials.