The massacre occurred on May 2, 2002, when The FARC launched an attack on the village of Bojayá, Chocó, a region controlled by paramilitary troops of the Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). The murdered civilians were all taking shelter in the local church, trying to avoid being caught in the cross fire.Guerrillas of the FARC launched a homemade mortar into the church, killing 119 people and wounding 89.The judge sentenced the State to pay 1.5 billion pesos (US$ 800,000) compensation to the families of two deadly victims, because it failed to protect its civiliansm despite a timely warning by the country’s ombudsman.The ombudsman had visited the area a week before and officially had warned the Ministry of Defense, the police and the National Army for the possible consequences of the imminent attack.The massacre is the worst in the over forty year violent conflict.
