Notorious Graduates from Colombia

1LT Pedro Nei Acosta Gaivis, 1986, Cadet Arms Orientation Course Murder of 11 peasants, 1990: Ordered the massacre of 11 peasants, had his men dress the corpses like guerrilla forces, and then dismissed the killings as an armed confrontation between the Army and guerrillas.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

LT Carlos Alberto Acosta, 1992, Curso de Orientacion de Infanteria para Cadetes (Commandant’s List)
Massacre, 1994: Fled after receiving notice of a 58-year sentence for his participation in the massacre of three people in Lebrija in June 1994. (Vanguardia Liberal, 11/15/97)

GEN Norberto Adrada C?rdoba, 1978, Training Management Course; 1975, Special Maintenance Administration Disappearance, 18 June 1986: Covered-up of the murder of William Camacho Barajas and Orlando Garcia Gonz?lez, who were last seen alive in
the hands of soldiers under Adrada C?rdoba's command. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Delmo William Alba Rinc?n, 1984, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Ram?rez massacre, 1986: Implicated in the murder of 6 individuals (4
were tortured) from the home of the Ram?rez family. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Juan Carlos Alvarez, 1987, Curso de Operaciones Psicologicas
Death Squad Activity: According to testimony given by Alvarez’ fellow
officers to the Colombian attorney general, Alvarez was the officer who
gave the go-ahead for death squad killings. (Human Rights Watch Report:
Colombia’s Killer Networks and Covert Action Quarterly)

CPT Jos? Ismael Alvarez D?az, 1980, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Disappearance, 26 May 1982: Covered-up the murder of Gustavo Alveiro
Mu?oz Hurtado, last seen alive with soldiers under Alvarez D?az'
command. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Alejandro de Jes?s Alvarez Henao, 1984, Joint Operations
Paramilitary death squad activity (MAS), 1982: Principal member of
"Muerte a Secuestradores" (MAS), a paramilitary death squad responsible
for numerous assassinations and disappearances. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Gilberto Alzate Alzate, 1983, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Segovia Massacre, 1988: Implicated in the massacre at Segovia in which
43 people died, including several children. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Luis Enrique Andrade Ortiz, 1983, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Massacre of a judicial commission, 1989: Believed to be the
intellectual author of the paramilitary massacre of 12 officials,
including 2 judges, who were investigating military/paramilitary
cooperation.
Assassination, 1988: Ordered the assassination of farmer Jorge Ram?rez,
carried out by a military/paramilitary patrol under his command.
Assassination, 1988: Ordered the assassination of Jos? S?nchez, also
carried out by military/paramilitary soldiers under his command. Then
he had the corpse put on display for the benefit of the public.
Ram?rez family massacre, 1986: Andrade Ortiz was one of officers in
charge of military/paramilitary soldiers who broke into the home of the
Ram?rez family, killed two members outright; and captured 4 others whose
bodies were found later with signs of torture. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

LTC Virgilio Anzola Montero, 1967, Cadet Orientation Course
Torture, murder of 5 peasants, 1986: Covered-up the torture and murder
of five peasants by soldiers under his command. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)
Paramilitary death squad activity (MAS), 1982: Anzola Montero used a
paramilitary death squad, "Muerte a Secuestradores" (MAS), to carry out
assassinations and disappearances.

GEN Jos? Maria Arbelaez Caballero, 1954, Communications Officer
Disappearances, 1982: Arbelaez Caballero provided false information to
investigators, the media and human rights organizations in order to
protect army and police personnel responsible for 13 disappearances in
the Cundinamarca department. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Jaime Gabriel Arcos Negret, 1986, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Disappearance, 18 January 1988: Implicated in the disappearance of
H?ctor Su?rez. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Agustin Ardila Uribe, 1984, Command and General Staff College
(Commandant's List)
lmprisoned town mayor for publishing poem against violence, 1993: In
1993, commander Ardila had town mayor Tirso Velez of Tibu arrested and
imprisoned for being a terrorist. His crime? Publishing a poem against
both guerrilla and army violence. (Americas Watch Report: State of War:
Political Violence and Counterinsurgency in Colombia, 1993)
Commander, Mobile Brigade 2: Colombia's "Mobile Brigades" are unique in
that they have no permanent base; their commanders answer only to the
Army high command in Bogot?. Mobile brigade soldiers wear distinctive,
U.S. Army-style camouflage and no name patches. A "broad, consistent
and often shocking" pattern of serious human rights violations follows
the Mobile Brigades - including Ardila's Mobile Brigade 2 - throughout
the Colombian countryside. (Americas Watch Report: State of War:
Political Violence and Counterinsurgency in Colombia, 1993)

CPT Carlos Javier Arenas Jim?nez, 1987, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Torture of 19, 1988: Participated in the detention and torture of 19
individuals in June 1988, one of whom sustained permanent damage to both
arms. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

2LT Julio Arenas Vera, 1985, Combat Arms Orientation Course
Assassination, 1986: Implicated in the revenge-killing of communist
Gustavo Alfonso Macias Borja. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Victor Julio Ar?valo Pinilla, 1975, Special Maintenance
Administration;1971, Engineer Officer Course
Torture, murder, 1989: Strongly implicated in the torture and murder of
Reinaldo Cuenca Wilson and Liliana Camacho Ipuz, and in the attempt to
make their deaths appear guerrilla-related. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Julio Elias Barrera Bustos,1982, Joint Operations Course
Paramilitary death squad activity (MAS), 1981-82: Protected and aided
the military/paramilitary death squad MAS.

GEN C?sar Eugenio Barrios Ram?rez, 1968, Military Intelligence Officer
Course
Murder 1987: Protected and covered for soldiers responsible for the
extrajudicial execution of 3 peasants, and the attempt to disguise the
incident as an armed confrontation with guerrillas. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

LTC Luis Felipe Becerra Boh?rquez, Not "formally enrolled." (See below.)

Urab? massacre, 1988: Colombian records indicate Becerra Boh?rquez
attended the U.S. Army School of the Americas in the early 1990's while
a warrant was out for his arrest for his leading role in the massacre of
20 banana workers. The SOA claims Becerra Boh?rquez was never "formally
enrolled" in officer training there. Like Victor Bernal Casta?o (next
page), and other officers in this section (indicated by #), it appears
the Colombian Army sent Becerra Boh?rquez to the SOA to avoid criminal
investigations at home.
Riofr?o massacre, 1993: Becerra eventually led another massacre, this
time murdering 13 civilians at Riofr?o. In November 1993, under intense
international pressure, Colombia dismissed Becerra from the military.
(MFIR, AW:SW, TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Harold Bedoya Pizarro, 1978-79, SOA Guest Instructor;1965, Military
Intelligence Course
Paramilitary death squad activity, 1965 - present: "Throughout Bedoya's
entire career, he has been Implicated with the sponsorship and
organization of a network of paramilitary organizations. Bedoya, who
has never undergone any investigation for his involvement in the
massacres of non-combatants or other dirty-war crimes, is an articulate
proponent of the continued "legal" involvement of local populations in
counterinsurgency operations." (Ana Carrigan, NACLA Report on the
Americas, March/April 1995)
Paramilitary death squad activity ("AAA"), 1978: Believed to be the
founder and chief of the paramilitary death squad known as "AAA"
(American Anti-communist Alliance). (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA,
1992)

CPT Pedro Vicente Berm?dez Lozano, 1981, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Urab? massacre 1988: Implicated in the massacre of 20 banana workers.
Although an investigation called for the dismissal of the soldiers
involved, a military court acquitted them, citing lack of evidence.
Berm?dez was even promoted (along with Becerra Boh?rquez, above) during
the army's Investigation" of the massacre. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, 1992, AW:SW)

LTC Victor Bernal Casta?o, 1992, Command and General Staff College
Fusagasug? massacre, 1991: Colombian legislature asserts that Bernal
Casta?o was enrolled at the SOA to avoid having to answer to
investigators about the Fusagasug? massacre of a peasant family.
(Charles Call, Miami Herald, 9/9/92) The SOA enrolled him in its longest
and most prestigious course, the Command and General Staff College, and
made him "Jefe del Curso," (Chief of Course)
Disappearance, 1989: Implicated in the disappearance of peasant Sandra
V?lez V?lez.
Paramilitary death squad activity (Hure): Protected and aided the
"Hure" death squad in its criminal activities, including assassinations
and disappearances. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

Henry Borda, 1980, Orientacion/Armas para Cadetes
Segovia Massacre, 1988: Judge Martha Luisa Hurtado issued an arrest
warrant against Borda and other officials for their failure to prevent
the massacre of 43 people in Segovia. All evidence indicates that the
police and military officials knew the attack was coming and did nothing
to prevent it, to stop it while it was occurring or to detain the
attackers as they escaped, driving right by the police station.
(Americas Watch Report: Informe sobre derechos humanos en Colombia,
1989)

GEN Martin Orlando Carre?o Sandoval, 1990, Comando y Estado Mayor
Threats and Intimidation of Human Rights Workers, 1998: On May 24,
troops under his command entered a farm located near San Jose de
Apartado. They shot a cow, proceeded to carve it up, and stated to all
those present that they would do the same to Eduar, a member of the
Missionary Team of Justice and Peace. On June 17, soldiers from the
same brigade came back and sought out Eduar, demanding that he give them
a statement and identify the witnesses of the earlier incident so they
could also provide statements. The military did not hide the fact that
among them were the very soldiers who had reportedly threatened Eduar.
(Inter-Congregational Justice and Peace Commission)

CPT Jos? Gabriel Castrillon Garcia, 1990, Infantry Officer Basic Course
Disappearance, 1987: Strongly implicated in the abduction and subsequent
disappearance of Jos? Jairo Medina Ram?rez. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Mauricio Cervera Bonilla, 1986, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Illegal detention, torture, 1989: Participated in the illegal detention
and torture of a union leader and 2 banana workers. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

COL Luis Arturo Cifuentes Mogoll?n, 1973, Auto Maintenance Officer
Course
Torture, assassination, 1986: Strongly implicated in the torture and
extrajudicial execution of M-19 member Yolanda Acevedo Carvajal.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

LTC Hern?n Alfonso Contreras Soler, 1971, Special Maintenance
Orientation
Torture, disappearance, 1977: Contreras Soler oversaw the capture and
torture of Mauricio Trujillo and Omaira Montoya Henao. Montoya Henao was
subsequently disappeared. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Francisco Javier Corrales, 1987, Curso de Orientaci?n de Armas para
Cadetes C-3A
Organizing paramilitary groups, 1992: In 1992, the human rights
attorney delegate for the armed forces filed charges against Corrales
and six other officers for their role in organizing paramilitary groups
in the Chucuri region of the department of Santander. (HUMAN RIGHTS
WATCH REPORT: COLOMBIA’S KILLER NETWORKS, 1996)

1LT Edgar Ferrucio Correa Copola, 1986, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Llana Caliente massacre, 1988: One of the officers responsible for the
massacre of 20 or more peasants detained during a march demanding
schools and health clinics. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Dario Enrique Cort?s Castillo, 1980, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Torture, 1988: Participated in the detention and torture of 19
individuals. One victim sustained permanent damage to both arms.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

2LT R?mulo Cort?s Gordon, 1985, Combat Arms Orientation Course
Assassination, 1986: Implicated in the revenge-killing of communist
Gustavo Alfonso Macias Borja. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

2LT Tomas Emilio Cruz Amaya, 1988, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Fusagasug? massacre, 1991: In March 1993, Colombia's attorney general
ordered the dismissal of Cruz Amaya for his role in the Fusagasug?
massacre of a peasant family. (Americas Watch Report: State of War:
Political Violence and Counterinsurgency in Colombia, 1993)

LTC Carlos Eduardo D?vila Romero, 1967, Cadet Orientation Course
Paramilitary activities (MAS), 1987-88: Involvement with paramilitary
death squads, including "MAS," at times aided by Israeli mercenaries.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

COL Rito Alejo Del Rio Rojas, 1967, Cadet Orientation Course
Paramilitary activity, 1985: Implicated in paramilitary activities,
including the theft of an Army weapons shipment. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO
EN COLOMBIA, 1992) In 1999, President Pastrana sent Del Rio into
retirement without explanation, at a time when he was under
investigation by the federal Prosecutor’s Office for alleged human
rights abuses and could face criminal charges. (Miami Herald 4/10/99)

MAJ Jorge Enrique Duran Arquelles, 1991, Curso de orientacion de
caballeria para cadetes
Massacre, 1991: Named in the massacre of 20 indigenous people in
Caloto. (Colombia: Human Rights Abuses against Indigenous Peoples,
Amnesty International)

COL Jaime Alberto Escobar Garz?n, 1981, Command and General Staff
College
Paramilitary activities (MAS), 1982: Implicated in activities associated
with the rightist military/paramilitary death squad "MAS" (Muerte a
Secuestradores, or 'Death to Kidnappers.)(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Germ?n Espinoza Rubio, 1982, Patrol Operations (Dropped); 1976,
Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Assassinations, 1982: Assassinated several peasants. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

LTC Manuel Jos? Espitia Sotelo, 1991, Command and General Staff
College;1982, Tactical Officer
Escape of Pablo Escobar, 1992: Espitia Sotelo was forced into early
retirement in August 1992 after drug kingpin Pablo Escobar "escaped"
from prison, where he was living in grand style. Espitia Sotelo was
commander of the military police battalion guarding the prison.
(Americas Watch Report: State of War: Political Violence and
Counterinsurgency in Colombia, 1993) (Escobar was discovered and killed
in 1993.)

COL Edgar Hernando Falla Alvira, 1967, Cadet Orientation Course
Assassinations, 1987: "Intellectual author" of the assassinations of
Uni?n Patri?tica leaders Jos? Dario Rodriguez and Fabiola Ruiz.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Carlos Arturo Farf?n Quiroga,1971, Special Maintenance Orientation
Paramilitary activity, 1987: Publicly supported paramilitary death
squads responsible for the assassinations and deaths of several
peasants. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Jorge Fl?res Su?rez, 1972, Military Intelligence Officer Course
Paramilitary death squad ("AAA") activity, 1978: Strongly implicated in
the activities of the military/paramilitary death squad "AAA."
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

2LT Octavio Fonseca Hoyos, 1985, Combat Arms Orientation
Disappearance, 15 September 1987: Strong evidence links Fonseca Hoyos
to the disappearance of Ram?n Salvador Angarita Solano. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CAP H?ctor Alirio Forero Quintero, 1977. Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Disappearances, torture, 1988: Commanded a patrol that disappeared 4
people on February 11, 1988. On the same day, he himself detained 2
more individuals and tortured them with the help of fellow SOA graduate
Carlos Morales del Rio (below). The last two victims were released to
civilian authorities several days later. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Mario Hugo Galan, 1971, 0-26
Threats to human rights workers, 1998: Recently in the news for calling
Human Rights Watch/ Americas director Jose Miguel Vivanco and a
Washington Post reporter “enemies of the people” for reporting that the
20th Brigade was being investigated in connection with the murders of
human rights defenders. Such a label is tantamount to a death threat.

LTC Luis Fabio Garcia Correra, 1985, Command and General Staff College
Denouncing human rights workers, 1993: “In May, June and July 1993,
senior army officers of the Nueva Granada Battalion based in
Barrancabermeja verbally attacked CREDHOS (Regional Committee for the
Defense of Human Rights) workers when they inquired about or tried to
visit detainees on the army base. On several occasions, officers,
including Battalion Commander Luis Fabio Garc?a, accused CREDHOS members
of being spokespersons for the guerrillas.” (Americas Watch Report,
State of War: Political Violence and Counterinsurgency in Colombia,
December 1993)

GEN Daniel Enrique Garc?a Echeverry, 1976, Command and General Staff
College; 1961, Military Intelligence
Paramilitary activity, 1983 - 88, including Urab? massacre: Garc?a
Echeverry established and ran paramilitary forces wherever he was
stationed. Witnesses and ex-members of his units have testified as to
his role in planning and running squads in Antioquia and Santander,
including his involvement with the paramilitaries who carried out the
Urab? massacre of twenty banana workers in 1988. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO
EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

COL Fernando Garcia Morales, 1967, Cadet Orientation
Paramilitary activity, 1986: Ex-members of a paramilitary group from
Puerto Boyac? testified that Garcia Morales protected, aided and
participated in paramilitary activities during his tenure as a commander
of the "Barbula" battalion. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Luis Roberto Garc?a Ronderos, 1983, Patrol Operations
Segovia massacre, 1988: Implicated in the massacre of 43 people,
including several children, in the town of Segovia. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Ram?n Emilia Gil Berm?dez, 1988, Guest Speaker; 1969, Maintenance
Orientation
Corruption, 1994: Dismissed from his position as commander of Colombian
Armed Forces on November 22, 1994, in an effort by President Ernesto
Samper to root out corruption and drug trafficking among the Colombian
armed forces. (Reuters, 11/22/94)
Death squad activity (MAS) 1982: Established, protected, and
participated in the activities of the rightist death squad "MAS."
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Carlos Julio Gil Colorado, 1969, 0-6
Paramilitary activity (including MAS), 1980 - 92: The highest ranking of
7 officers indicted in November 1992 for involvement with paramilitary
groups in the Santander department. (Amnesty International Report:
Colombia: Political Violence: Myth and Reality, 1994; Americas Watch
Report: State of War: Political Violence and Counterinsurgency in
Colombia, 1993; Human Rights Watch World Report 1994; TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Bernardo Gil lsaza,1981, Cadet Arms Orientation
Urab? massacre, 1988: Implicated in the massacre of 20 banana workers.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Juan Fernando G?mez Gallego, 1985, Combat Arms Orientation
Paramilitary activity, 1987: Implicated in activities linked to the
paramilitary death squad ROJO-ATA. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA,
1992)

Oscar Gomez,1987, Curso de Orientaci?n de Armas para Cadetes C-3A
(Infanter?a)
Murder: Gomez is charged with the “aggravated murder” of grassroots
leader Antonio Palacios Urrea as well as six other people. (Americas
Watch Report: Political Murder and Reform in Colombia, 1992)

MAJ Leonardo G?mez Vergara, 1983, Cadet Branch Orientation
Disappearance, 18 June 1986: Implicated in the disappearance of William
Camacho Barajas and Orlando Garc?a Gonz?lez. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Jorge Gonz?lez, 1985, Combat Arms Orientation
Paramilitary activity (MAS), 1981-82: Implicated in activities of the
right-wing paramilitary death squad MAS, or "Muerte a Secuestradores"
(Death to kidnappers). (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Luis Miguel Gonz?lez Monroy, 1992, Officer Administration Course;
1976, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Illegal detention, torture, extrajudicial execution, 10 May 1986:
Implicated in the detention, torture and murder of Yolanda Acevedo
Carvajal. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Manuel Jaime Guerrero Paz, 1988, SOA "Hall of Fame"
Mistreatment of prisoners, 1982: In 1982, soldiers under Guerrero Paz'
command tortured four prisoners, one of whom died of his injuries.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)
Illegal detention, 1988: In a measure of questionable legality, he
personally issued orders for the arrest of ten union leaders, most of
whom were released later without charge. (Amnesty International 1989)
Paramilitary activities: Throughout his tenure as armed forces chief and
defense minister, the relationship between the Colombian military and
paramilitaries remained close, and impunity was the rule for crimes
committed by both. (Colombia: Inside the Labyrinth)

COL Carlos Guerrero Pe?a, 1985, Command and General Staff College; 1977,
Military Intelligence Officer
Paramilitary activity, 1986: Strongly implicated in paramilitary
activity in Puerto Boyac? (Boyac?). (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA,
1992)

GEN Marino Guti?rrez lsaza, 1985-86, Guest instructor; 1973, Military
Police Intelligence Officer Course
Disappearance, Murder, 1982: Implicated in the disappearance of Gustavo
Albeiro Mu?oz Hurtado on 26 May 1982. His cadaver was found the
following July 4. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Hern?n Jos? Guzm?n Rodr?guez, 1993, SOA "Hall of Fame"; 1969,
Maintenance Orientation
Former Commander, Colombian Army, dismissed: With five other top
military officers, Guzm?n Rodr?guez was dismissed on November 22, 1994
by President Ernesto Samper. Samper overhauled the military leadership
in the hopes of decreasing corruption and drug trafficking in the armed
forces, and Improving the human rights record of the military. (Reuters,
11/22/94)
Paramilitary activity (MAS), 1987-90: Guzm?n Rodr?guez protected and
aided paramilitary death squad MAS between 1987 and 1990, when it was
responsible for the deaths of at least 149 people. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO
EN COLOMBIA, 1992)
Illegal detention, torture, extrajudicial execution, 1986: Guzm?n
Rodr?guez commanded the soldiers who detained, tortured, gang raped and
executed Yolanda Acevedo Carvajal - then concocted the story that she
committed suicide by shooting herself in the nape of her neck.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Hermann Hackspiel Olano, 1976, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Urab? Massacre, 1988: Implicated in the massacre of 20 banana workers.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT David Hernandez, 1985, Orientacion de Armas de Cadete; 1991,
Operaciones Sicologicas
Firing indiscriminately on civilians: In August 1996, troops under
Hernandez’s command fired on and used tear gas against a group of
protesting peasants, which resulted in four wounded. The soldiers also
burned the protesters’ tents and stole money that was intended for the
purchase of food. (Noche y neblina: Panorama de derechos humanos y
violencia politica en Colombia, Banco de Datos de violencia politica)

COL Roberto Hern?ndez Hern?ndez, 1970, Automotive Maintenance Officer;
1976, Tactical Officer, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Paramilitary activity, 1980-90: Consistently implicated in paramilitary
activities in association with members of the extreme right.
Torture, 1990: Supervised the illegal detention and torture of 42
people, most of whom were union members and human rights workers.
Trujillo massacre, 1990: Implicated in the gruesome killings in
Trujillo, in which many victims were dismembered with chain saws.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Edgardo Hern?ndez Navarro, 1985, Combat Arms Orientation Course
Segovia massacre, 1988: Implicated in the early evening massacre of 43
people, including several children, in the town of Segovia. (TERRORISMO
DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Alejandro Herrera Fajardo, 1977, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Disappearance, 1982: Implicated in the disappearances of 13 people in
Cundinamarca between 4 March and 11 September 1982. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

2LT Albeiro Herrera Casta?o, 1986, Cadet Arms Orientation (Engineer)
Disappearance, 1988: Implicated in the disappearance of 4 peasants in
the Santander department. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

COL Leopoldo Hipolito Hincapi? Segrera, 1971, Automotive Maintenance
Officer Course
Disappearance, 1988: Implicated in the detention and disappearance of
Ren? Herre?o Ortega. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)
Torture, 1979: Participated in the detention and torture of Olga L?pez
Jaramillo. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Hern?n Hurtado Vallejo, 1954, Anti-Aircraft Artillery/Automatic
Weapons
Disappearance, murder, 1982: Implicated in the disappearance of Gustavo
Albeiro Mu?oz Hurtado, who was detained in May, and whose cadaver was
found the following July. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Gilberto lbarra, 1983, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Used children to detonate mines, 1992: On February 12, 1992, Ibarra
forced 3 peasant children to walk in front of his patrol to detonate
mines and spring ambushes. Two were killed; one was seriously wounded.
(U.S. Committee for Refugees Report: Feeding the Tiger: Colombia’s
Internally Displaced People, 1993)

CPT Cen?n Dario Jim?nez Leon; 1980, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Assassination, 1988: Strongly implicated in the assassination of union
leader Manuel Gustavo Chac?n Sarmiento, whose assassination in broad
daylight incited five days of strikes and confrontations between the
military and the citizens of Barranca. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, 1992; Colombia:
Inside the Labyrinth)
Disappearance, 1988: Strongly implicated in the illegal detention,
beating and disappearance of H?ctor Su?rez. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Miller Tarcisio Koy Nu?ez; 1983, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Assassination, 1986: Implicated in the assassination of Uni?n Patri?tica
member Pedro Net Jim?nez. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Fernando Land?zabal,1950, Basic and Heavy Weapons
Refusal to submit to civilian democratic authority, 1983: Landaz?bal was
forced to retire as Colombia's defense minister in 1983, when he refused
to honor a government mandated amnesty for certain guerrilla factions.
(Colombia: Inside the Labyrinth)

Paucelino Latorre Gamboa, 1980, Commando Operations
Commander of notorious Twentieth Brigade, 1998: Latorre was the
commander of the 20th Brigade when it was implicated in the murders of
three human rights workers in 1998. the Colombian government recently
disbanded the 20th Brigade because of its involvement in grave human
rights violations.

1LT Carlos Alberto Lasprilia Ram?rez, 1984, Cadet Arms Orientation
Course
Disappearance, 1988: Implicated in the disappearance of Ren? Herre?o
Ortega. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Jorge Alberto Lazaro Vergel, 1981, Orient/Armas p' Cadetes C-3
Puerto Pati?o Massacre, 1995: Lazaro was arrested by the attorney
general’s office in Barranquilla on charges that he had directed the
massacre of 8 people in Puerto Pati?o. A local police commander quoted
Lazaro as saying, “no one[can] operate here without my order and I tell
them yes or no, they are under my command and we’re not going to leave
dead people around, we are going to grab people and disappear them
because the dead make a lot of noise”. (HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORT:
COLOMBIA’S KILLER NETWORKS, 1996)
Links to Drug-Trafficking: Cited in a Colombian police report, which
was published by Human Rights Watch in 1996, for involvement in the drug
trade. (Frank Smyth, freelance journalist)

1LT Samuel Lesmes Castro,1984, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Torture, murder, 1986: Participated in the torture of Yolanda Acevedo
Carvajal, and aided in the cover-up of her assassination. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Harvey Bernardo Londo?o Mu?oz, 1986, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Disappearance, murder, 1989: Implicated in the disappearance of Reinaldo
Cuenca Wilson and Liliana Camacho Ipuz, whose bodies were blown up near
a pipeline in order to seem like a guerrilla operation gone wrong.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Germ?n Arturo Lopera Restrepo, 1976, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Disappearance, 1982: Implicated in the disappearance of 13 people
between 4 March and 11 September 1982. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Fernando L?pez Cifuentes, 1992, Combat Arms Officer Advance Course
Torture, murder, 1987: Implicated in the brutal torture and murder of
C?sar Aqite Ipia and Miguel Ipia Vargas. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Luis Fernando Madrid Bar?n, 1978, Small Unit Tactics
Paramilitary activity, 1987: Implicated in the activities of a
paramilitary group which killed 149 people from 1987 to 1990. Cited as
the intellectual author of many of the assassinations. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Cesar Maldonado, 1987, Cadet Arms Orientation
Forced civilian to guide, 1991: On patrol as part of Mobile Brigade 2,
Maldonado and another lieutenant forced peasant Pedro Paternina Argumedo
off of a public bus, made him put on an army uniform, and forced him to
guide them for 8 days, without contact with his family. This is not an
unusual tactic for Mobile Brigade personnel, who wear US camouflage
uniforms, are responsible to no local authority, and wear no name tags.
(Americas Watch Report: State of War: Political Violence and
Counterinsurgency in Colombia, 1993)

MAJ Carlos Enrique Mart?nez Orozco, 1975, Guerrilla Warfare Operations
Massacre, 1988: Implicated in the massacre of 18 miners in Antioquia,
whose body parts washed in pieces down the river Nare. Mart?nez Orozco
was subsequently promoted.
Paramilitary activity, 1990: Protected a chief paramilitarist
responsible for high-profile assassinations; and in June 1992 was
charged in a military court for his connection to paramilitaries.
(Amnesty International Report: Colombia: Political Violence: Myth and
Reality; TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Jos? Nelson Mej?a Henao, 1989, SOA "Hall of Fame"; 1961, Counter
Resistance Course
Use of U.S. counter-narcotics funds for counterinsurgency campaign:
Former Chief of Staff, Colombian Army. Generals Nelson Mej?a Henao and
Luis Eduardo Roca thanked the US Congress in 1991 for $40.3 million in
anti-narcotics aid which was used (illegally) in counterinsurgency
campaigns in northeastern Colombia, where narcotics are neither grown
nor processed. (Ruth Conniff in The Progressive, May 1992)

CPT Carlos Armando Mej?a Lobo,1989, Psychological Operations Course;
1980, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Assassination, 1984: Ordered the extrajudicial execution of communist
Oscar William Calvo. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Carlos Vicente Mel?ndez Bohada, 1978, Training Management Course
Paramilitary activity (MAS), 1982: Implicated in paramilitary activities
associated with the right-wing paramilitary death squad MAS.
Assassinations, 1976-77: Implicated in the assassination of peasants
Gilberto Vanegas and Alicidio Vanegas. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Luis Antonio Meneses B?ez, 1980, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Paramilitary activity, 1981 -1991: Engaged in all manner of paramilitary
activities -- including illegal detentions and extrajudicial executions
- and described himself as a "coordinator" of armed forces and military
intelligence. (AI:CPV, TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Pedro Nel Molano Vanegas, 1962, Counterinsurgency Operations Course
Torture, murder, 1978: Strongly implicated in the torture and murder of
ELN member Jose Manuel Mart?nez Quiroz. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Tomas Monroy Roncancio, 1981, Patrol Operations; 1976, Small Unit
Infantry Tactics
Murder (6 counts, convicted), 1986: In June 1992, a military court
convicted Monroy and 2 sergeants for detaining six workers ("suspected
subversives"), forcing them into a cave, and slitting their throats.
(Americas Watch Report: State of War: Political Violence and
Counterinsurgency in Colombia, 1993)

LTC Mario Montoya Uribe, 1993, SOA Guest Instructor; 1983, Tactical
Officer, Cadet Arms
Paramilitary activities (AAA), 1978-79: Implicated in paramilitary
activities (specifically, bombings) of the paramilitary group known as
"AAA." (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Carlos Alfonso Morales Del Rio, 1980, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Paramilitary activity, 1988: One of three Army officers believed to have
run a death squad which operated in San Vicente de Chucuri and El Carmen
(Santander). (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Juan Carlos Morales Lopez, 1989, Cadet Orientation
Paramilitary Activities: Was arrested in July 1998 after an
investigation by the Colombian Attorney General concluded that Morales
Lopez and other military officers collaborated with members of
paramilitary groups who were captured in Acandi (Choco) in February of
1998. (El Colombiano, 7/24/98)

MAJ Manuel Orlando Moreno Mart?nez, 1975, Guerrilla Warfare Operations
Murder of 3 woodcutters, 1988: Implicated in the murder of 3
woodcutters. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Rafael Neira, 1980, Orientacion de Armas para Cadetes
Cover-up, 1991: Neira claimed that Gildardo Antonio Gomez had escaped
following his arrest by soldiers from the Nueva Granada Batallion, which
was under Neira’s command. Gomez’ body was subsequently found with
signs of severe torture. (OMCT News, 1991)

2LT German Dario Otalora Amaya, 1988, Orientacion de Armas para Cadetes
Massacre in El Sande: In 1990, troops under Otalora’s command entered
the village of El Sande threatening them and accusing them of being
guerrillas. Several people were killed, including the religious lay
worker from Switzerland, Hildegard Maria Feldmann. Sande, firing
indiscriminately at the inhabitants. They rounded up all of the
villagers, (Aquellas muertes que hicieron resplandecer la vida, 1992)

GEN Gustavo Pardo Ariza, 1971, Irregular Warfare Operations
Escape of Pablo Escobar, 1992: Pardo was one of three Army officers (two
of them SOA graduates) forced into retirement upon the "escape" of Pablo
Escobar from prison. Pardo was head of the Fourth Brigade in Medellin;
soldiers under his command were supposed to be guarding the prison from
which Escobar literally walked away. (Americas Watch Report: State of
War Politcal Violence and Counterinsurgency in Colombia, 1993)

Jose Pereira,1987, Curso de Orientaci?n de Armas para Cadetes C-3A
Illegal arrest, 1991: Pereira was indicted for the illegal arrest of
Gildardo Antonio Gomez and one of his employees. The two were taken to
an abandoned house and questioned about their involvement with the
guerrillas. The employee managed to escape, but Mr. Gomez’ body was
later found with signs of torture. (Americas Watch Report: Political
Murder and Reform in Colombia, 1992)

1LT Edgar Gonzalo Pe?a, 1982, Orient/Armas p' Cadetes C-3
Illegal arrest and torture: A judge in Cucuta ordered Pe?a’s arrest for
his participation in the 1988 capture of Benjamin Quintero Alvarez,
Jorge Vivas B. y Luis H. Perez, who were later found tortured.
(Autodefensas, paramilitares y narcotrafico en Colombia)

GEN Rafael Pe?a Rios, 1971, Special Maintenance Orientation Course;
1967, IW Operations
Stated baldly in an interview with El Tiempo that the military should be
a force of repression. He bemoaned the fact that the military no longer
had complete control of Colombia, equated political opposition (such as
the Uni?n Patri?tica) with guerrilla warfare, and said that the way to
end military abuse of authority was to give back to the military
complete authority. (Colombia: Inside the Labyrinth)

MAJ William Fernando Perez Laiseca, 1977, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Torture, 1988: Participated in the detention and torture of 19 people
in Pereira (Risaralda). (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Eduardo Alfonso Pico Hern?ndez, 1983, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Urab? Massacre, 1988: Implicated in the massacre of 20 banana workers.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

LTC Roberto Pizarro Martinez, 1981, SOA Guest Instructor
Murder, 1986: Implicated in the murder of Victor Manuel Aroca and the
ensuing attempt at a cover-up. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Gustavo Adolfo Pizza Giviria, 1982, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Assassination, 1987: Implicated in the assassination of Uni?n Patri?tica
presidential candidate Jaime Pardo Leal. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Luis Fernando Plata Aldana, 1986, Cadet Arms Orientation
Llana Caliente massacre, 1988: Plata Aldana commanded one of the
companies whose soldiers fired indiscriminately into a crowd of peasants
detained during a march demanding schools and health clinics in the
Santander department. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Eduardo Plata Quino?es, 1977, Command and General Staff College
(Distinguished Graduate);1969, Maintenance Orientation
Trujillo massacre, 1990: At the very least, Plata Quino?es is believed
to have covered for officers involved in the gruesome campaign of
killing and dismemberment in and around Trujillo in the spring of 1990.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Norberto Plata S?nchez, 1976, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Torture, murder, 1980: Participated in the torture of four M-19 members,
one of whom died. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Jos? Bertoli Porras Amaya, 1981, Cadet Arms Orientation
Torture, 1990: Participated in the torture of 42 people over 7 days,
most of whom were members of labor unions or human rights groups.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Jos? Oswaldo Prada Escobar, 1986, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Disappearance, paramilitary activity, 1988-89: Implicated in
paramilitary activities including disappearance, assassination, and the
massacre of a judicial commission investigating military/paramilitary
cooperation. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Orlando Hernando Pulido Rojas, 1983, Cadet Branch Orientation
Torture, murder, 1988: Implicated in the torture of Felem?n Cala Reyes
in September 1988, and in his murder on 14 March 1989.
Paramilitary activity, 1987: Participated in a paramilitary death squad
responsible for the assassination of 149 peasants between June 1987 and
April 1990. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Marco Aurelio Quintero Torres, 1976, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Torture, 1988: Tortured Jorge Ivan Pulgarin Arcila during 9 days in
March 1988. Later that year, Quintero Torres participated in the
torture of 19 people, one of whom sustained permanent damage in both
arms. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN N?stor Ram?rez Mej?a, 1985, Command and General Staff College
(Distinguished graduate)
Beating of journalist, 1996: In 1996, journalist Richard Velez was
attempting to film a confrontation where army troops under Ramirez’
command fired on a group of demonstrating peasants. When the soldiers
saw Velez filming, they began to kick and beat him, demanding that he
give up the tape. He managed to hand the tape to another journalist who
was able to smuggle it out, but Velez himself was severely wounded, his
liver perforated and testicles destroyed. This incident occurred after
Velez had publicly challenged Ramirez Mejia at a press conference,
providing video evidence that contradicted Ramirez’ account of an armed
confrontation. Velez was later granted political asylum in the United
States. (Colombia Update, Fall/Winter 1998)
Failure to comply with judicial order, 1996: A judge sentenced Ramirez
Mejia to 30 days in prison and a fine for failure to comply with an
order to remove barricades constructed by the army at a bridge to block
protesting peasants. (Colombia Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 2)
Assassination, 1986: Implicated in the revenge-killing of Gustavo
Alfonso Mac?as. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

SGT William Ramirez, 1986, Orientaci?n de Armas para Cadetes C-3A3
Murder: Ramirez is charged with the aggravated murder of grassroots
leader Antonio Palacios Urrea as well as six other people. (Americas
Watch Report: Political Murder and Reform in Colombia, 1992)

CPT Carlos Hugo Ram?rez Zuluaga, 1980, Cadet Arms Orientation
Paramilitary death squad activity (MAS), 1981 -82: Colombian attorney
general named Ram?rez Zuluaga as one of several Army officers who were
part of the military/paramilitary death squad MAS (Muerte a
Secustradores, or "Death to Kidnappers"). (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Luis Fernando Ricardo Perdomo, 1987, Psychological Operations Course

Paramilitary death squad activity (MAS), 1981-82: Colombian attorney
general named Ricardo Perdomo as one of several Army officers who were
part of the military/paramilitary death squad MAS. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO
EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Luis Eduardo Roca Malchel, 1991, SOA “Hall of Fame”
Misuse of counter-narcotics funds. In 1991, this former Army chief of
staff, with cohort Jos? Nelson Mej?a Henao (above), thanked Congress for
$40.3 million in anti-narcotics aid, which they said would be used
(illegally) in counterinsurgency campaigns in northeastern Colombia,
where narcotics are neither grown nor processed. (Ruth Connill, The
Progressive, May 1992)
Torture, 1988: Covered for those who tortured 19 people over 3 weeks in
June 1988, one of whom sustained permanent damage to both arms.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Luis Alberto Rodr?guez, 1978, Command and General Staff College;
1970, "O-7"
Former head, joint chiefs of staff, dismissed along with 5 other top
military officers: Rodr?guez was dismissed on November 22, 1994 by
President Ernesto Samper. Samper overhauled the military leadership in
the hopes of decreasing corruption and drug trafficking among the armed
forces, and improving the human rights record of the military. (Reuters,
November 22, 1994)

GEN Francisco Augusto Rodr?guez Arango,1969, Maintenance Orientation
Course
Murder, 1986: Covered for those responsible for the revenge-killing of
communist Gustavo Alfonso Mac?as. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA,
1992)

GEN Luis Alvaro Rodr?guez Fontecha, 1975, Guerrilla Warfare Operations
Paramilitary death squad activity (MAS), 1981-82: Named by the
Colombian attorney general in 1983 as a member of the
military/paramilitary death squad MAS. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Mario Ra?l Rodr?guez Reynoso, 1978, Small Unit Tactics
Murder, 1989: Implicated in the disappearance of Amparo Tordecilla.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Ra?l Rojas Cubillos, 1971, Special Maintenance Orientation
Urab? massacre, 1988: Implicated in the early morning massacre of 20
banana workers. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)
Segovia massacre, 1988: Implicated in the early evening massacre of 43
people, including several children, in a central park in the town of
Segovia. Several children were among the dead. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Luis Fernando Rojas Espinoza, 1984, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Segovia massacre, 1988: Implicated in the massacre at Segovia.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Jos? Hugo Rojas Guzm?n, 1986, Cadet Arms Orientation
Paramilitary activity, 1989: Led a military/paramilitary death squad in
Magdalena Medio. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

2LT Alejandro Rojas Pinilla, 1985, Cadet Arms Orientation
Disappearance, 1987: Implicated in the abduction and disappearance of
Ram?n Salvador Angarita Solano from his home in the Santander
department. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT William Fernando Rubio Moreno, 1986, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Murder, 1988: Implicated in the murder of three woodcutters in Magdalena
Medio. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Jaime Ruiz Barrera, 1970, Military Intelligence Officer Course
Assassination of Colombian attorney general, 1988: Implicated in the
assassination of Colombian attorney general Carlos Mauro Hoyos.
Torture, murder, 1979: Ordered the assassination of Claudio Medina
Caycedo and the disposal of his corpse. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

LTC Francisco E. Ruiz Florian, 1976, Tactical Officer, Small Unit
Infantry
Assassination, 1986: Obstructed investigations into the revenge-killing
of communist Gustavo Alfonso Macias. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA,
1992)

CPT Marco Antonio Salazar Duque, 1976, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Paramilitary (MAS) activity: Investigations by the attorney general and
others indicated that Salazar Duque participated in the
military/paramilitary death squad MAS, and was personally responsible
for the assassination of at least one individual. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO
EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Juan Carlos Salazar Salazar, 1980, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Illegal detention, torture, 1988: Participated in the detention and
torture of 19 individuals, one of whom sustained permanent damage to
both arms. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Juan Salcedo Lora, 1979, SOA Guest Instructor; 1971, Special
Maintenance Orientation
Illegal detention, 1988: Ordered the illegal and clandestine detention
of Manuel Reyes C?rdenas. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Rafael Samudio Molina, 1988, SOA "Hall of Fame"; 1970, SOA Guest
Instructor
Massacre at the Palace of Justice, November 7, 1985: Oversaw the Army
massacre at the Palace of Justice following an attempt by the M-19 to
take it over. The Army under his command set the building ablaze,
resulting in the needless and horrifying deaths of many of the
hostages. Other hostages were killed in Army crossfire, or, as some
suspect, direct assassination. Even the hostages who lived through the
horrifying ordeal were not safe; some were killed before exiting the
palace and others were arrested and disappeared immediately upon leaving
the building. Taped conversations between Samudio Molina and his
commanders in the building establish that at no time did Samudio Molina
act as an agent of the civilian government, but rather used the
situation to prove the brutality of the Colombian military and to
eliminate individuals, including Supreme Court justices, who were not
staunch enough allies of the Colombian Army. (POJ) Samudio Molina has
also been implicated in paramilitary activities since 1978. (TERRORISMO
DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Humberto Sanchez Rey, 1990, Advanced Combat Officer Course; 1982,
Cadet Arms Orientation
Assassination of Uni?n Patri?tica presidential candidate, 1987:
Implicated in the drug-financed assassination of Jaime Pardo Leal, Uni?n
Patri?tica presidential candidate. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA,
1992)

GEN Manuel Sanmiguel Buenaventura, 1962, Counterinsurgency Operations
Urab? massacre, 1988: Implicated in the massacre of twenty banana
workers.
Torture, 1979: Participated in the torture of Olga L?pez and Augusto
Lara S?nchez. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Carlos Eduardo Santacruz Estrada, 1983, Cadet Arms Orientation
Segovia massacre, 1988: Implicated in the early evening massacre of 43
unarmed people, including children, in a Segovia park. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

COL Ram?n de Jes?s Santander Fuentes, 1986, Command and General Staff
College (Distinguished graduate)
Massacre, 1989: Implicated in the military/paramilitary massacre of a
judicial commission investigating military/paramilitary cooperation.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Jos? Ismael Sierra Sierra, 1976, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Disappearance, 1982: Covered for those who disappeared Gustavo Albeiro
Mu?oz Hurtado. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

MAJ Jairo Solano, 1976, Tacticas de Infanteria de Unidades Peque?as
Ordered killing, 1992: He ordered the death of Dr. Adalbulo in 1992.
(Colombia’s Killer Networks)

MAJ Carlos Arturo Su?rez Bustamante, 1981, Tactical Officer, Cadet Arms
Orientation
Assassination, 1986: Commanded the company that conducted the
revenge-killing of Gustavo Alfonso Macias Borja. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO
EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Celso Su?rez Mart?nez, 1975, Special Maintenance Administration
Massacre at the Palace of Justice, 1985: Implicated in the disappearance
of hostages who survived the Army's brutal handling of the M-19 takeover
of the Palace of Justice in Bogot?. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA,
1992)

MAJ Luis Alberto Tobo Pe?a, 1976, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Torture, assassination, 1984: Implicated in the torture and murder of
communist Luis Fernando Lalinde. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA,
1992)

GEN Hugo Arturo Tovar Sanchez, 1967, Tactical Officer, Cadet Orientation
Course
Clandestine detention, 1989: Ordered the illegal clandestine detention
of Argiro Alonso Avendano Palacio and Maricela Cuello Villamil.
(TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

COL Orlando Elain Tovar Trujillo, 1979, SOA Guest Instructor; 1967,
Cadet Orientation Course
Torture, 1988: Implicated in the military operation in which 19
individuals were arrested and subsequently tortured. One victim
sustained permanent damage to both arms. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

COL Victor Manuel Trujillo Hoyos, 1983-84, Guest Instructor
Paramilitary death squad activity (MAS), 1981-82: Protected and aided
the military/paramilitary death squad MAS while assigned to the Fifth
Brigade. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

1LT Orlando Ulloa Gait?n, 1980, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Assassination, 1987: Implicated in the drug-financed assassination of
Uni?n Patri?tica presidential candidate Jaime Pardo Leal. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Luis Bernardo Urbina Sanchez, 1985, Command and General Staff
College
Paramilitary death squad activity, 1988-89: Fellow SOA graduate Meneses
Baez confessed to Urbina Sanchez' involvement in paramilitary death
squads, which he referred to as "self-defense' groups.
Disappearance, assassination, 1989: Implicated in the assassination of
Amparo Tordecilla.
Assassination, 1987: Implicated in the assassination of Uni?n Patri?tica
member Alvaro Garc?s Parra.
Disappearance, torture, assassination, 1987: Ordered the detention,
torture and assassination of Mario Alex?nder Granados Plazas.
Disappearance, 1986: Intellectual author of the detention/disappearance
of William Camacho Barajas and Orlando Garc?a Gonz?lez.
Torture, disappearance, 1977: Implicated in the torture of Omaira
Montoya Henao and Mauricio Trujillo, and the subsequent disappearance of
Omaira Montoya. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Jairo John Uribe C?rdenas, 1980 Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Paramilitary activity, 1986: Implicated in paramilitary activities,
including assassinations and disappearances, in Llanos Orientales.
Ram?rez massacre, 1986: Implicated in the murder of 2 members of the
Ram?rez family, and the torture and murder of 4 others. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

COL Alirio Antonio Urue?a Jaramillo, 1976, Small Unit Infantry Tactics
Trujillo chain saw massacres, 1988-1991: From 1988 - 1991, at least 107
citizens of the village of Trujillo were tortured and murdered. An
eye-witness said Major Alirio Antonio Urue?a tortured prisoners
(including elderly women) with water hoses, stuffed them into coffee
sacks, and chopped them to pieces with a chain saw. The eye-witness was
soon disappeared; Major Urue?a was promoted to Colonel. After intense
international outcry, Urue?a was dismissed from the Army in February
1995. (Associated Press, 2/7/95; TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

GEN Juan Jos? Alfonso Vacca Parilia, 1980, Guest Instructor
Urab? massacre, 1988: Implicated in the massacre of 20 banana workers on
the morning of March 4, 1988.
Disappearance, 1988: Implicated in the disappearance of Manuel Reyes
C?rdenas.
Assassination, 1987: Implicated in the assassination of Alvaro Garc?s
Parra, mayor of Sabana de Torres,
Paramilitary activity (MAC), 1985: Created a military/paramilitary death
squad known as "Muerte a Comunistas" (Death to Communists)
Torture, 1979: During his tenure there, the Escuela de Caballeria was a
torture center. Olga L?pez Jaramillo was tortured there. (TERRORISMO DE
ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

CPT Cesar Augusto Valencia Moreno, 1980, Orientacion para Ramas de
Cadete
Linked to death of Sergio Restrepo Jaramillo: Cpt. Valencia repeatedly
pressured Jesuit Sergio Restrepo to change a mural painted on a church
wall that depicted soldiers torturing a priest. Restrepo refused to do
so, and was murdered a short time later by paid assassins who carried
Army Intelligence cards. Eye witnesses state that shortly before the
shots were fired, Valencia became nervous and went out onto the balcony
as though expecting something to happen. When he heard the shots, he
was visibly relieved and came back inside. (Aquellas muertes que
hicieron resplandecer la vida, 1992)

CPT Hugo Alberto Valencia Vivas, 1980, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Segovia massacre, 1988: Implicated in the massacre at Segovia in which
43 people died, including several children. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)

LTC Bayardo Vasquez Valdes, 1977, Automotive Maintenance Officer
Disappearance, 1989: Implicated in the disappearance of Sandra V?lez
V?lez. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

LT Alfonso Vega Garzon, 1985, Orientacion de Armas de Combate
Massacre, 1993: Implicated in the massacre of 13 people. (Colombia’s
Killer Networks)

CPT Freddy Jos? Velandia Bottia, 1980, Cadet Arms Orientation Course
Torture, 1989: Commanded the patrol that detained and tortured a union
leader and 2 banana workers over several days in March 1989. (TERRORISMO
DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)

COL Carlos Velasquez, 1976, Tacticas de Infanteria de Unidades Peque?as
Coup Plot, 1995: As commander of the 17th Brigade, Velasquez planned to
seize Colombian President Samper during a visit to an army base in the
northwest banana-growing region of Uraba and send him into exile in
Panama. The attempt was called off after a general, on of Velasquez’s
superiors, arrived unexpectedly at the base. Interior Minister Alfonso
Lopez immediately announced an investigation and said that Velasquez
would be punished. Prior to serving as a commander of the 17th Brigade,
Velasquez headed an anti-drug unit that lead the search for the kingpins
of the Cali cartel, but he was transferred after the leak of a video
showing him in a motel room with a known female member of the cartel.
(Reuters)

GEN Jes?s Maria Vergara Aragon, 1971, Special Maintenance Orientation
Course
Fusagasug? massacre, 1991: Failed to investigate the massacre for days
after it happened, insisting publicly that guerrillas were responsible
for killing a peasant family and two other men. (Americas Watch Report:
State of War Political Violence and Counterinsurgency in Colombia, 1993)

GEN Farouk Yanine D?az, 1990, Guest speaker; 1991, Guest speaker; 1969,
Maintenance Orientation Course
Urab? massacre, 1988: Implicated in the massacre of 20 banana workers
in Antioqua in March 1988.
Assassination, 1987: Implicated in the assassination of the mayor of
Sabana de Torres, Alvaro Garc?s Parra.
Paramilitary activities (MAS), 1984-85: Implicated in paramilitary
activities associated with the death squad MAS. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN
COLOMBIA, 1992)
Massacre of 19 businessmen, 1987: After an investigation that linked
Yanine to this 1987 massacre, the public prosecutor’s office issued an
arrest warrant for Yanine, who was at that time giving classes at the
Inter-American Defense College in Washington. Upon return to Colombia,
Yanine was detained, but, in a decision criticized by the U.S. State
Department, among others, his case was quickly passed to a military
court where he was absolved. (Colombia: Derechos humanos y derechos
humanitarios, Comision Colombiana de Juristas, 1997) According to the
1998 State Department Report on Human Rights in Colombia, “Despite the
government’s attempts to bring him to justice in the civilian court
system, the military prevailed, continuing the tradition of impunity for
all but the lowest-ranking members of the security forces.”
According to former SOA instructor Maj. Joseph Blair, Yanine visited
the SOA as a guest speaker from 1986 to 1989 on an annual basis and was
a close personal friend of US Army Col. Miguel Garcia, who was the
commandant of the SOA at the time.

GEN Nacim Yanine D?az, 1971, "O-7'
Disappearance, 1982: Implicated in the disappearance of 13 people
between March and September of 1982. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA,
1992)

GEN Hernando Camilo Zu?iga Chaparro, 1978, Command and General Staff
College;1968, Military Intelligence Officer Course
Torture, 1988: Commanded the unit responsible for the torture of 19
people in June 1988, one of whom sustained permanent damage to both
arms.
Clandestine detention, 1988: Ordered the clandestine detention of Jos?
Manuel Reyes C?rdenas.
Disappearance, 1985: Implicated in the disappearance of guerrillas and
hostages following the M-19's doomed attempt to takeover the Palace of
Justice.
Torture, disappearance, 1977: Ordered the detention and torture of
Omaira Montoya Henao and Mauricio Trujillo. Omaira Montoya Henao was
never seen again. (TERRORISMO DE ESTADO EN COLOMBIA, 1992)