Army commanders who survived April FARC attack arrested

Army commanders who survived April FARC attack arrested
Posted by Adriaan Alsema on Jun 23, 2015

Two commanders of the unit that lost 11 men in an April FARC attack that subsequently led to the unraveling of attempts to deescalate Colombia’s armed conflict have been arrested, according to local media.

The April 15 attack on the army unit took place while the FARC formally was upholding a unilateral ceasefire. The military initially claimed the guerrillas attacked the unit while they were sleeping, but contradictory statements by locals subsequently discredited that version, causing confusion about what really took place in Buenos Aires, Cauca.

. . .

According to the locals, the military unit had illegally camped on the border of the village — effectively using the villagers as a human shield. Additionally, the locals claimed the unit had been out of line for days, drinking liquor, walking in and out of the sports court they used for shelter and even fighting between each other, basically ignoring protocol and violating the locals’ rights.

This was later confirmed by one of the surviving members of the unit.

Two of the unit’s commanders, Sargent Rodolfo Diaz and Corporal Alfonso Carvajal, have now been arrested by military justice officials on charges of disobedience, homicide, assault, negligence and false testimony, reported Noticias Uno.

http://colombiareports.com/army-commanders-who-survived-april-farc-attack-arrested/