2
leave, after which they were detained for the rest of the night totally naked in
spite of the inclement weather.”
Detentions and removal
4.
According to Sergeant Pacheco Zambrano, at one point shots were heard, and,
according to him:
“These shots would have alerted the insurgents who were in the highest parts of
the area, causing them to flee, but [he] managed to detain a man, an adult
woman and a girl of approximately 3 years of age.” He said that another soldier
arrested a man who was traveling in the direction of the village and that Sergeant
Carrera Gonzáles managed to detain seven people, then went down to the center
of the village where he found that the rest of the troops had mistreated the
villagers after taking them out of their houses.
“The soldiers remained in the village until after midday, at which time they
began to prepare a meal, slaughtering some sheep and killing several chickens
belonging to the Hilario family.” 3
5.
From there they continued their march to the “Misteriosa” mine, and on the way:
“The patrol encountered Elihoref Huamaní Vergara whom they added to the group
of detainees. A witness told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that
Elihoref’s father 4 did not seem worried about his son’s detention, since as an
Army veteran he assumed that he would not be harmed in any way. However,
Elihoref Huamaní disappeared without trace and it is reasonably presumed that
he was killed along with the other villagers.” 5
6.
It has also been proven from the statements of the military personnel involved
that they committed acts of mistreatment and theft of livestock and money from the
villagers:
“Sergeant, Third Class, Duilio Chipana Tarqui admitted that during the
operation the soldiers mistreated the villagers of Rodeo Pampa and that all the
detainees were previously tied by the neck to be taken to the abandoned mine.
“The accused soldiers also admitted taking money belonging to the
victims, and also that they set fire to some houses, rounded up dozens of head
of cattle and received S/. 20.00 new soles each from Lieutenant Bendezú,
allegedly as proceeds from the sale of the animals. The soldiers who testified in
the proceedings held in the Military Court maintained that the cattle they seized
in the hamlet of Rodeo Pampa were finally taken to the Military Base of Lircay,
and presumably sold by Lieutenant Bendezú to distribute the aforementioned S/
20 new soles among his men.” 6
Extrajudicial executions
7.
All versions of these events agree that on July 4, 1991, the 15 individuals
detained and taken away in the inhumane conditions described above died. These
versions (with the sole exception mentioned in the following paragraph) coincide in
3
4
5
6
Report of the CVR, volume VII, page 532.
Who accompanied him.
Report of the CVR, volume VII, page 533.
Report of the CVR, volume VII, page 534.