Colombia’s far-right trying to postpone presidential elections
Colombia’s opposition embarks on anti-election fraud offensive
Establishment candidate in Colombia’s elections linked to mafia
Far-right group goes from opposing communism to opposing...
ELN declares unilateral ceasefire ahead of Colombia’s elections
Colombia’s opposition dismisses US claim of ‘Russian threat’
Colombia’s drug policy a ‘failure’ that obstructed peace:...
Medellin government rejects ‘illegitimate’ interim mayor
Electoral violence in Colombia doubled since 2018
Colombia legalizes assisted suicide in historic ruling
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
News

Ten years on, no justice for El Salado massacre victims

by Daniel Brody February 23, 2010

Colombia news - El Salado

Residents of the northern Colombian town of El Salado on Monday marked the tenth anniversary of a paramilitary massacre that left more than 100 dead. So far, no more than fifteen of the 450 perpetrators have been convicted.

Not a single paramilitary leader has been sentenced for their part in the atrocity.

The town’s inhabitants commemorated the grim milestone with a church liturgy, an exhibition of pictures of those killed, and the reopening of a local school.

The massacre began on February 16, 2000, when members of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) entered the town of El Salado and began murdering the people who lived there. The AUC suspected many of the townspeople of being members and supporters of left-wing guerrilla group the FARC, one of the AUC’s biggest enemies. Victims were taken from their homes by the paramilitaries and dragged to a local football field, where they were publicly tortured before being hung, beaten, stabbed, and shot to death.

Former paramilitary chief Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, alias “Jorge 40,” extradited to the U.S. on drug trafficking charges, has said that the slaughter was ordered by the now-deceased former AUC leader Carlos Castaño. Jorge 40 also said that various AUC bigwigs such as the notorious Salvatore Mancuso, and former members of the Colombian military, were present at the attacks. According to a report released last year by the National Commission of Reparation and Reconciliation (CNRR), the attacks were meant to serve as an example for other alleged guerrilla sympathizers.

The massacres lasted several days, and Colombian marines stationed in the area are reported to have observed the killings and done nothing to stop them, even going so far as to allow the AUC to freely fly helicopters over the town.The CNRR report also notes that only one marine has been brought before a judge on charges related to action or inaction during the massacre.

Ten years on, memories of the horror still linger over El Salado. Half of the 1,400 people who lived there at the time of the massacre haven’t returned. A small medical center has been built, but still lacks a doctor.The town has tried to pick up the pieces by repairing houses, repainting facades and fixing up the dirt road that leads into town.

AUCcarlos castañoEl Salado massacreJorge 40Salvatore Mancuso

Trending

  • Why Colombia’s upcoming elections could trigger a crisis

  • Colombia’s inspector general suspends mayors on election meddling charges

  • Medellin government rejects ‘illegitimate’ interim mayor

Related articles

  • Colombia’s war crimes tribunal orders 63 investigations into alleged paramilitary allies

  • Colombia’s private sector received cut from organized crime profits: warlord

  • How to steal land the size of a small country | Part VIII: coercing justice

  • RSS

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top