The Mapiripán massacre was a massacre of civilians that took place in Mapiripán, Meta Department, Colombia. The massacre was carried out from July 15–20, 1997, by the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), an outlawed right-wing paramilitary group.
On July 12, 1997, two planes containing paramilitary members arrived at the airport of San José del Guaviare, which also served as a base for the anti-narcotics police. The group then travelled through territories where the Colombian National Army operated checkpoints.
On July 15, 1997, the paramilitaries arrived at Mapiripán, where they used chainsaws and machetes to murder, behead, dismember, and disembowel civilians. Because the bodies were thrown into a river, it is unknown exactly how many people died but the United States Department of State stated in 2003 that at least 30 civilians were killed.
In proceedings before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the government of Colombia admitted that members of its military forces also played a role in the massacre, through omission.
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