The names of five lieutenants of the group "La Terraza" killed with their leader Luis Sanchez Mena by the United Self-defence Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC) in August 2000 [COL42959.E]

Although the Research Directorate was able to find various articles citing the murder of Sanchez Mena and his five lieutenants by the United Self-defence Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC) (Weekly News Update on the Americas 27 May 2001; El Nuevo Herald 27 May 2001; El Tiempo 14 Dec. 2000; Revista Cambio n.d.), information on the names of the five lieutenants could not be found within the time constraints of this request.

However, there were discrepancies within the information found about Sanchez Mena. While the Weekly News Update on the Americas stated that Luis Sanchez Mena, also known as El Negro, and five of his lieutenants were killed on 3 August 2000 (27 May 2001), Miami-based El Nuevo Herald noted that the murders took place on 3 August 1999 (27 May 2001). In addition, El Tiempo newspaper of Bogota reported on the killing of La Terraza leader Elkin Sanchez Mena, alias El Negro, and six other leaders (14 Dec. 2000). According to the Bogota-based magazine Revista Cambio, La Terraza leader Elkin Sanchez Mena and his men were ambushed on a trail to the camp of AUC leader Carlos Castano (n.d.). Two men apparently survived the attack (Revista Cambio n.d.).

Country Reports 2000 also mentioned that that the leader of the criminal gang La Terraza and six of its members were killed by the AUC in August 2000 (23 Feb. 2001).

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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Revista Cambio [Bogota]. N.d. "Justos por pecadores." (Google cache) http://www.cambio.com.co/web/interior.php?idp=11&ids=2&ida=347 [Accessed 25 Aug. 2004]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. 23 February 2001. United States Department of State, Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/wha/741.htm [Accessed 25 Aug. 2004]

El Nuevo Herald [Miami]. 27 May 2001. Gerardo Reyes and Gonzalo Guillen. "Los zarpazos de un hombre acorralado." http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/auc/auc-zarpazos.htm [Accessed 23 Aug. 2004]

El Tiempo [Bogota]. 14 December 2000. "En Estampida la Terraza." http://www.peacebrigades.org/colombia/piq169.html [Accessed 24 Aug. 2004]

Weekly News Update on the Americas [New York]. 27 May 2001. "Colombia: Bombs Reveal Death Squad Fight." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted


One oral source was unable to provide the information requested.

One oral source was unable to respond within time constraints.

Internet: Actualidad Colombiana, Agencia de Noticias Nueva Colombia (ANNCOL), Amnesty International, Center for International Policy, Colombia Report, Comision Andina de Juristas (CAJ), European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group (ICG), Noche y Niebla, El Espectador [Bogota], El Pais [Cali], Radio Caracol [Bogota], Resource Center of the Americas, World News Connection/Dialog.

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