Recent Forensic Discovery in Neiva: A Step Toward Closure for Victims’ Families
In an important step towards uncovering the truth and achieving justice for victims of armed conflict, the Unit for the Search for Disappeared Persons (UBPD) has recently recovered 25 bodies during a forensic intervention in the central cemetery of Neiva, Colombia. This operation represents a significant advancement in the Regional Northern Search Plan of Huila, aiming to locate missing persons related to violence that erupted between 2006 and 2012.
According to Diego Fernando Sevilla Cortés , the regional coordinator of the UBPD, these remains may correspond to individuals reported missing in areas impacted by the conflict, including municipalities such as Aipe, Tello, Algeciras, Baraya (Huila); Planadas (Tolima), and San Vicente del Caguán (Caquetá) .
“For two weeks , our forensic teams conducted a meticulous examination of the cemetery, particularly focusing on Monument 14 , where we exhumed 21 vaults, leading to the recovery of 25 bodies,” Sevilla explained.
This humanitarian and extrajudicial intervention followed precautionary measures established by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) in 2019, ensuring the integrity of these remains to prevent their loss or alteration.
Out of the 25 recovered bodies, 12 have been verified through comparison with prior necropsy protocols and have been reburied in ossuaries within the same cemetery section while awaiting formal identification. Five additional bodies will undergo further analysis in an upcoming forensic phase scheduled for September 2025 , while the other eight are currently in the identification process with the collaboration of the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences .
“Our objective is to ensure a dignified return for the families, always emphasizing dignity, memory, and reparation ,” Sevilla noted.
A remarkable aspect of this forensic operation was the involvement of four former members of the public force who currently face legal proceedings with the JEP . They offered assistance as part of restorative actions aimed at promoting peace through acknowledging the shared responsibility of conflict actors. This collaborative effort symbolizes recognition of the victims’ suffering and supports the ongoing quest for truth.
To date, this marks the sixth intervention by UBPD within the central cemetery of Neiva, resulting in a total of 96 recovered bodies associated with forced disappearances during Colombia’s armed conflict. The efforts are part of the North Huila Regional Plan , which targets 863 missing individuals in that area. Overall, UBPD has documented 1,574 cases in Huila, with combined figures from Huila, Putumayo, and Caquetá approaching 9,947 disappearances .
According to a report from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) , Huila endured severe armed violence during critical years, with 611 homicides reported in 2003 and a resurgence of 513 cases in 2007 . Although the numbers began to decline post-2008, the years from 2006 to 2012 witnessed extraordinary levels of violence and disappearances .
“UBPD’s commitment lies with the truth , dignity , and the right of families to ascertain what happened to their missing loved ones. Each recovered body signifies progress towards repair and collective memory,” Sevilla concluded.
The UBPD urges families searching for their missing loved ones or who have helpful information supporting identification processes to reach out. Contact lines are always open: 316 278 3918 (national) and 316 0174564 (Huila). All information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality for humanitarian purposes.