A/HRC/45/CRP.11 They were released on 12 April 2016 and an OLP was carried out the following day. 2059 On 9 May 2016, an air force captain and his wife were kidnapped in the Andrés Bello municipality. They were released on 12 May and an OLP was subsequently carried out on 14 May 2016.2060 1167. According to Minister of the Interior, Néstor Reverol Torres, the security situation in Miranda2061 had prompted President Maduro to activate a joint operation.2062 The Minister said that the operation had been ordered to combat arbitrary evictions of houses by violent elements linked to Colombian paramilitarism and organized crime. 2063 Other officials with knowledge of the operation have suggested that revenge for the death of the retired GNB General and his wife might also have been a factor.2064 Others have suggested a criminal motive.2065 1168. On 10 October 2016, the Interior Minister explained that the deployment included 1,299 military and police officers from 15 units from different parts of the country. He noted that the area covered under the operation represented 53.85 per cent of Miranda state. 2066 The military component of the operation had reached the region on 7 October 2016, three days before the deployment of other security forces. As he spoke to the press, he was accompanied by high-ranking military leaders, including Admiral Reigio Caballos, the then second strategic CEOFANB commander, Major General Onella Fereira, head of the REDI Capital and Major General Alberto Bellorín, commander of the ZODI Miranda. 2067 1169. A former high-ranking official in State intelligence services informed the Mission that the FANB led the operation because ordinary police forces were no match for the powerful gangs operating in Barlovento. The witness explained that DGCIM had gathered previous electronic intelligence on the criminal groups and that the police were tasked with containment while the CICPC provided expertise.2068 Plan Rondón 1170. The Barlovento operation was part of a military plan called Plan Rondón. 2069 According to the plan, public order disturbances, looting, drug trafficking, kidnapping, 2059 2060 2061 2062 2063 2064 2065 2066 2067 2068 2069 228 El Pitazo, Activan OLP en Barlovento tras secuestro de tres militares y un bebé, 13 April 2016, available at: https://archivo.elpitazo.net/regiones/activan-olp-barlovento-tras-secuestro-tres-militaresbebe/. El Pitazo, Secuestran capitán de aviación en Barlovento, 10 May 2016, available at: https://archivo.elpitazo.net/sucesos/secuestran-capitan-la-aviacion-barlovento/. See also El Cooperante, Por segunda vez: despliegan OLP en Barlovento tras liberación de capitán de la aviación, 14 May 2016, available at: https://elcooperante.com/por-segunda-vez-despliegan-olp-en-barloventotras-liberacion-de-capitan-de-la-aviacion/. YouTube Video, Multimedio VTV, Miranda: inmueble usado para secuestro será puesto de commando, 18 October 2016, minute 1:49, video on file with the Mission. Ibid., minute 1:57. YouTube Video, Multimedio VTV, Detenidos militares vinculados a desapariciones de personas en Barlovento, 26 November 2016, minute 0:17, video on file with the Mission. Mission Interview C4FF09 in February 2020. See tweet by Army Brigadier General Antonio Rivero stating that Major General Álvarez Bellorín, commander of the ZODI Miranda, organized the Barlovento operation because “the people worked in Caracas with General Zavarse, who coordinated the operation with General Álvarez, allegedly for non-compliance with a payment for hamponiles deeds”. Maduradas, Aseguran que general del Ejército ordenó la masacre de Barlovento (implican a 11 militares), 28 November 2016, available at: https://maduradas.com/muy-grave-aseguran-que-general-del-ejercito-ordeno-la-masacre-debarlovento-implican-a-11-militares/. Diario Panorama, Reverol: 1.300 funcionarios resguardarán Barlovento en plan especial de seguridad, minutes 0:10 and 1:05, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=53&v=iJQrrdDvc24&feature=emb_logo., minute 1.30 Ibid., minute 0:15. Mission Interview C4FF10 in May 2020. Plan Rondón, Documento de una masacre / Luisa Ortega Díaz, Formal operations order by REDI Capital to all agencies, signed by Major General José Adelino Ornelas Ferreira, 7 December 2017, available at: http://rupturaorg.blogspot.com/2017/12/operacion-rondon-documento-de-una.html.