4 more soldiers convicted for 2005 massacre on peace community .

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Colombia Reports

4 more soldiers convicted for 2005 massacre on peace community .
Tuesday, 12 June 2012 21:28 Adriaan Alsema



Four former soldiers have been convicted for the 2005 massacre of five adults and three children in the northern Colombian peace community of San Jose de Apartado, local media reported Tuesday.

The regional court partially revoked the initial acquittal of ten former soldiers by a local court in 2010 and sentenced the four retired members of the military to 34 years in prison and a $5.7 million fine.

The San Jose de Apartado massacre was carried out by members of the Heroes de Tolova Block of paramilitary organization AUC and members of the National Army's 17th Brigade during a large counter-insurgent operation called "Operation Phoenix."

For years, the Colombian army insisted guerrilla group FARC was guilty of the massacre.


Read more: http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/24549-4-more-soldiers-convicted-for-2005-massacre-on-peace-community.html

[patrice]

1. I know a Catholic brother who has been in service to the poor of Central America

for some years and who tells us that Americans need to understand that many of the people in these troubled countries are killed NOT for being on this or that side, i.e. for being on the "wrong" side, but for trying to be on no side at all.

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. Damn that murdering dictator Chavez! Oh, wait...

[Judi Lynn]

3. Mass graves containing 150 remains discovered in northwestern Colombia .

Mass graves containing 150 remains discovered in northwestern Colombia .
Wednesday, 13 June 2012 07:34 Christan Leonard

Colombia's Prosecutor General's Office announced Tuesday it has located mass graves belonging to the AUC, formerly the country's largest paramilitary group, containing at least 150 remains.

A committee of the Justice and Peace Unit of the Attorney General's Office discovered the graves in the municipalities of Unguia, Choco and Necocli, Antioquia with the assistance of demobilized AUC leaders Elmer Cardenas and Freddy Rendon Herrera, alias 'El Aleman.'

According to Herrera, the victims were killed between 1995 and 1997 and various groups within the AUC were responsible including the House of Castaño, the Arlex Hurtado front, the Banana Bloc, the Elmer Cardenas Bloc and a group known as Los Guelengues.

The search for remains continues and officials believe there may be more graves near the site in Unguia.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/24553-mass-graves-containing-150-remains-discovered-in-northwestern-colombia.html

[revolution breeze]

4. K&R n/t