memorandum of justification concerning human ... - Just the Facts

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Annex F: Continuation of Proceedings by Inspector General’s Office
Between June 16, 2008 and June 15, 2009, 55 the Colombian government reported
that the Inspector General‘s Office continued disciplinary proceedings against 138
members of the Armed Forces involved in 19 cases listed in previous certifications for
violations of human rights and collaborating with paramilitary groups. Where known, the
date disciplinary charges were originally brought against each individual is included (the
count of the list below varies from the total number of individuals detained as some
individuals are listed under multiple cases):
A. The Inspector General‘s Office continued proceedings against four soldiers from the
Army‘s 28 th Air Transport Infantry Battalion. The four, and one other soldier from
their unit (Army Sergeant Harold William Pejendino, who was convicted and
sentenced to 20 years in prison on March 31, 2008), allegedly collaborated with the
United Self-Defense forces in Casanare in Viota (Cundinamarca) between March and
May 2003 in the homicide of civilians that the paramilitary group deemed to be
guerilla sympathizers. The Prosecutor General‘s Office has also opened an
investigation. ((Prosecutor General‘s Office Case Number 1765/Inspector General‘s
Office Case Number 155-173269-2008)
(1) Army Sergeant Harold William Pejendino
(Prosecutor General’s Office convicted him and sentenced him to 20 years in
prison on March 31, 2008)
(2) Army Colonel (retired) Rodrigo Alfonso Gonzales Medina
(3) Army Major Alexander Lizarazo Parra
(4) Army Major Alejandro Robayo Rodriguez
B. The Inspector General‘s Office continued proceedings against five soldiers (charges
originally brought November 28, 2007) from the Army‘s 4 th Engineering Battalion for
their involvement in the murder of Juan de Jesús Rendón and threatening with death
of his 13-year-old daughter on April 23, 2004, in the hamlet of Arenillal in Sonsón
(Antioquia). The Prosecutor General‘s Office also conducted an investigation, in
which the five were sentenced to 34 years in prison. (Prosecutor General‘s Case
Number 2050/ Inspector General‘s Office Case Number 008-112357-2004)
(5) Army Professional Soldier Fred Alexander Cañaveral Ramírez
(6) Army Professional Soldier Elkin Edilson Orrego Palacio
(7) Army Professional Soldier Carlos Andrés Ladino Monroy
(8) Army Professional Soldier Yovanni Presiga Tangarife
(9) Army Second Sergeant Elmer Torres Rodríguez
55 Time frame available as of July 31, 2009.
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