The militia member was among 62 who were captured in a weekend operation that Colombia's government says is proof of its resolve against rightist violence that the military has been accused of tolerating. Those being held are part of a larger unit accused in the Easter week massacre of at least 19 villagers, possibly as many as 40. Leftist guerrillas and their rightist paramilitary rivals are fighting over territory and drug profits in Colombia's 37-year civil war.
Unarmed peasants suspected of collaborating with the enemy often become victims.
The outlawed paramilitaries are quickly expanding, filling a security void left by a weak central government. From less than a thousand in 1992, the AUC is believed to have at least 8,000 fighters. Led by Carlos Castano, a former army guide whose father was assassinated by guerrillas, the group has killed thousands of suspected leftists and is trying to sabotage peace talks between Pastrana and guerrillas. U.S. officials say the AUC could pose an even greater threat to Colombia's democracy than the leftist rebels. The State Department on Monday included the AUC for the first time in a worldwide list of terrorist organizations.