More than a week has passed since the discovery of the Izaguirre extermination ranch. Now, supposed survivors of forced recruitment have decided to reveal the violent practices that took place inside the property.
Three of these testimonies were revealed to Milenio Televisión and a fourth, from a woman, was told to the leader of the collective, Indira Navarro. This is what was revealed.
The horror inside the Izaguirre ranch
In an interview for Milenio, men whose identities were not revealed recounted some atrocities they had to commit to stay alive.
The first of them recounted that upon his arrival, he was forced to undress. Those who refused or began to ask questions were killed instantly.
Those who chose to remain silent were recorded in a notebook and assigned a nickname, tasks, and resources.
The accounts indicate that the ranch was divided into different sections. A warehouse of about 389 square meters (4,187 square feet) served as a dormitory and gym.
"We slept in a fetal position, very close to each other, because people were taken away, but new people arrived almost daily"
stated a young man who only spent two weeks at the Izaguirre ranch.
Another survivor commented that they were constantly beaten with sticks or wooden boards.
"Every day they hit us for anything, that's how they kept us scared. From the moment we arrived, the first thing they do is beat you with boards (sic)".
During the day, they were subjected to tests they had to pass if they wanted to stay alive.
"There's not a day I don't think about it and it doesn't torment me. But at that moment, things were done to stay alive. Those days are only when they teach you to shoot with an AK-47 and a handgun"
confessed another survivor.
