The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) announces it will investigate the 1985 Palace of Justice siege, including the former Colombian president’s role.
The court will examine the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of 11 people that went missing during a 1985 guerrilla attack on Colombia‘s Supreme Court and subsequent Army offensive.
The IACHR will also consider, in accordance with a report released by its partner organization the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Wednesday, the role of former Colombian president Belisario Betancur in the tragedy.
More than 100 people, including all of the rebels and 11 of 25 Supreme Court Justices, died in the Army’s attempt to retake the building from the M-19 guerrilla group — and the military was also accused of torturing and murdering the 11 people who went missing.
Only one person — Army Colonel Alfonso Plazas — has ever been convicted in relation to the siege. Plazas was sentenced to 30 years in 2010 for his role in the forced disappearances.