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Colombia: Implementation of the Pistol Plan (Plan Pistola) in Garzón, Huila; whether individuals affiliated with the Andean Family Compensation Cooperative (Caja de Compensación Familiar Andina, CAFANDINA) have been affected by such a plan (1999-May 2003)

According to the Presidential Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Programme (Programa Presidencial de Derechos Humanos y Derecho Internacional Humanitario), the Pistol Plan (Plan Pistola), launched by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) in 1999, consists of a campaign of "focused assassinations" (asesinatos focalizados) against off-duty or "defenceless" (indefensos) members of the police and armed forces (Colombia May 2002, 3-4).

Implementing the plan in the departments of Huila and Caquetá, members of the FARC's Teófilo Forero Castro mobile column have killed approximately 90 "active and retired officers and non-commissioned officers" (oficiales y suboficiales activos y retirados) (Diario de Huila 20 Feb. 2003). Media reports refer to two such incidents in the municipality of Garzón, Huila, namely the July 2000 assassination of Saulo Gil Ramírez Sandoya, variously described as a former director or retired general of the National Police (Policía Nacional, PN) (Radio Caracol 22 Feb. 2001; Semana.com 17 Feb. 2001; ibid. 2 Mar. 2001); and the 29 July 2001 killing of retired PN colonel Armando Ramírez Ramón (Colombia Feb. 2002; Radio Caracol 3 Feb. 2002). Ramírez's alleged killer, Fernando Yara Tovar, reportedly took his own life after being injured by the victim's brother as he attempted to flee (Colombia Feb. 2002).

No mention of individuals affiliated with the Andean Family Compensation Cooperative (Caja de Compensación Familiar Andina, CAFANDINA) – a social security organization active in the Huila municipalities of Neiva, Garzón, Gigante, La Plata and Pitalito (Andino.net n.d.) – being targeted by members of the FARC or other armed groups could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Andino.net. n.d. "Consulta por caja de compensación (todos los servicios)." <http://elfo.andinet.com/subsidio/consultas.php3> [Accessed 20 May 2003]

Colombia. May 2002. Programa Presidencial de Derechos Humanos y Derecho Internacional Humanitario. Muertes de soldados y policías fuera de combate. No. 5. "El Plan Pistola." <http://www.mindefensa.gov.co/derechos_humanos/documentos/soldadosypoliciasmuertos.pdf> [Accessed 20 May 2003]

____. February 2002. Fiscalía General de la Nación. "Boletín de prensa no. 28: Dos acusados por homicidios en desarollo del 'Plan pistola'." <http://www.fiscalia.gov.co/pag/divulga/Bol2002/febrero/bol28.htm> [Accessed 20 May 2003]

Diario del Huila [Neiva]. 20 February 2003. Germán Hernández Vera. "Sembradores de barbarie." <http://www.diariodelhuila.com/historico/judicial030220_2.htm> [Accessed 20 May 2003]

Radio Caracol [Bogotá]. 3 February 2002. "Llamados a juicio acusados de 'Plan pistola'." <http://www.caracol.com.co/titular.asp?ID=67329> [Accessed 20 May 2003]

____. 22 February 2001. Hernando Marroquín. "Fiscalía acusa a las Farc de serie de asesinatos selectivos." <http://www.caracol.com.co/titular.asp?ID=42680> [Accessed 20 May 2003]

Semana.com [Bogotá]. 2 March 2001. No. 983. "Rueda suelta." <http://www.semana.com/archivo/articulosView.jsp?id=17520> [Accessed 20 May 2003]

____. 17 February 2001. No. 981. "Conexión Neiva." <http://www.semana.com/archivo/articulosView.jsp?id=17037> [Accessed 20 May 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

World News Connection (WNC)

Unsuccessful attempts to contact two oral sources

Internet sites, including:

Colombia Support Network

El Colombiano [Medellín]. 2001-2003.

Diario del Huila [Neiva]. 1998-2003.

Equipo Nizkor

Gobernación de Huila

Radio Caracol [Bogotá]

Revista Cambio [Bogotá]