Capítulo 11: Violaciones a los Derechos Humanos, infracciones al DIH y responsabilidades colectivas.

Testimony of Daniel Gómez on Violence in Colombia

Background and Involvement

• Daniel Gómez introduces himself as the former military commander of the Antonio Nariño peasant brigades, part of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC).

• He shares his background as a member of the national army's military intelligence, indicating his prior involvement in significant violence and human rights violations.

Military Intelligence Operations

• Gómez discusses how military intelligence provided information for targeted killings, including names and addresses of individuals.

• He highlights that student protests were often infiltrated to identify leaders for potential reprisals, revealing a systematic approach to suppress dissent.

Human Rights Violations

• The testimony outlines various grave human rights abuses committed during the conflict, such as massacres, extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, and sexual violence.

• Gómez expresses remorse for these actions and emphasizes a desire to prevent future generations from experiencing similar tragedies.

Acknowledgment of Responsibility

• He stresses the importance of acknowledging the truth about combatants' roles in human rights violations and calls for voluntary admissions from those involved.

• The need for accountability is underscored as he reflects on the pain caused by revolutionary ideologies leading to crimes against humanity.

Call for Truth and Reconciliation

• Gómez conveys deep regret over the loss suffered by families due to violent practices during his tenure.