On January 23, 1991, the Putumayo Departmental Police Commander ordered members of the National Police to conduct an armed operation in Las Palmeras, Municipality of Mocoa, Department of Putumayo. The armed forces opened fire from a helicopter, wounding a six-year old boy on his way to school. Police then detained several bystanders in the nearby area and extrajudicially executed at least six of these people. The National Police officers and the Army troopers took several measures in an attempt to justify their action, including putting military uniforms on the bodies of some of those killed and threatening witnesses in the case. The Court found that the State violated the American Convention on Human Rights.
Case Summary: Las Palmeras v. Colombia, Case Summary