Crisis in Catatumbo: Government would decree internal commotion without economic emergency this Wednesday

The Minister of the Interior, Juan Fernando Cristo, announces exceptional measures to restore public order in the affected area.

News Colombia.

The Catatumbo region, in Norte de Santander, Colombia, faces a serious humanitarian crisis due to clashes between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

These conflicts have left at least 60 dead and more than 18,000 displaced in recent days, according to reports from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

In response to this situation, President Gustavo Petro has declared a state of internal commotion in the Catatumbo region. This measure allows the Executive to make exceptional decisions to restore public order and guarantee the safety of citizens.

The Minister of the Interior, Juan Fernando Cristo, confirmed that the corresponding decree will be issued today.

Furthermore, Cristo pointed out that the possibility of implementing a new tax to address the emergency in Catatumbo will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance, without ruling it out completely.

The declaration of internal commotion grants the Government special powers to confront serious disturbances of public order that threaten institutional stability and citizen coexistence.

However, President Petro has decided not to declare an economic emergency on this occasion, focusing on security and public order measures to address the crisis.

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The situation in Catatumbo is critical. The clashes have caused the massive displacement of communities, especially affecting children and adolescents. OCHA reports that more than 46,000 minors have had their education interrupted due to violence in the area.

In addition, significant violations of International Humanitarian Law have been documented, including attacks against civilians and restrictions on the passage of medical missions.

The National Government has sent military reinforcements to the region to contain the violence. President Petro has ordered the deployment of 600 new military personnel in Catatumbo, with the aim of protecting the population and restoring order.

However, the complexity of the conflict and the historical presence of armed groups in the area represent significant challenges for authorities.

The international community and human rights organizations have expressed their concern about the escalation of violence in Catatumbo. The UN urges the Colombian Government to implement structural measures to dismantle criminal organizations and allow a peaceful life for the inhabitants of the region.

“It is a failure of the Nation,” is how President Gustavo Petro described the humanitarian situation in El Catatumbo and recognized that a failure was made by not having identified in time that the ELN was strengthening itself with men from Arauca to commit this violent escalation. “…Some… pic.twitter.com/V5kh2KDyIA

— BluRadio Colombia (@BluRadioCo) January 22, 2025