Locals have raised doubts about a case of torture allegedly carried out by guerrilla group FARC in a town in the southwest of Colombia last week, said local media Tuesday.
The victim, Luis Eider Dagua Velasco, claimed he was tortured by members of the FARC when he refused to lead an explosives carrying donkey to a military base in the village of El Palo
According to El Palo citizens the alleged FARC torture site was 200 meters from an army post and close to army roadblocks as well. They also said there are no donkeys in their area, and that Dagua lives in Ecuador and has not lived in El Palo for over two years.
According to Dagua’s family members, Dagua was with his sister and nephew when he went to to bushes to relieve himself. He appeared moments later having been attacked. The attackers wore civilian clothes.
Colombian newspaper El Liberal also reported citizens complained that the Colombian Army was using civilians as a human shields. Townspeople said the army regularly stationed tanks and other priority targets within the town as a level of protection from the guerrilla. Citizens also complained that army personal accused many citizens of FARC ties.
El Palo lies in the south western department of Cauca. FARC activity in the department has prompted the Colombian government to repeatedly increased the amount of troops in the region.