“Naturally, each of these five officers enjoys the presumption of innocence,” said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director of Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch investigators say they obtained access to evidence implicating him in the crimes, including the confession of a soldier who said Ricci may have ordered the civilians’ deaths. A document from the chief prosecutor’s office shared with The Associated Press by Human Rights Watch confirms that he is under investigation. Prosecutors are investigating 79 deaths that occurred in 2004 and 25 in 2005, years that coincide with Bastidas’ time as the battalion’s commander, Human Rights Watch said. The final agreement includes the creation of a special peace tribunal to which both rebels and military officers involved in any crimes are expected to confess.

Source: National Post November 14, 2017 13:16 UTC