In 1991, members of the Paez indigenous community were murdered by armed men alongside state agents. There were allegations that narco-terrorists were part of the attack and the anti-narcotics police chief was implicated during the State’s investigation. The State, during friendly settlement negotiations, accepted responsibility for the acts, however these talks broke down before a conclusive settlement. The Commission held that the State was responsible for violations of the right to life for those killed in the massacre and procedural violations related to untimely and ineffective investigations—largely conducted in the military system.
Citation: Masacre "Caloto" v. Colombia (Report) IACHR (13 April 2000) Report No. 36/00