An armed group kidnapped five soldiers in Tame, Arauca. The Ombudsman’s Office requested his release and respect for IHL.
The event occurred in the Santo Domingo sector, an area affected by the presence of the ELN and FARC dissidents.
Five members of the National Army were kidnapped this Sunday in a rural area of the municipality of Tamedepartment of Arauca, after being forced to get off a public transport vehicle by an illegal armed group, according to the Ombudsman’s Office. The event occurred in the Santo Domingo sector, an area that has historically recorded the presence of different illegal armed actors and confrontations between them.
The Ombudsman demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the uniformed menwarning that, if not done, the case could constitute a violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) as it involves a possible “hostage taking.” In his statement, heThe entity reiterated that it is willing to accompany the humanitarian efforts necessary to achieve the recovery of the freedom of the military and other people who remain in captivity in the country.
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Local and regional authorities have been alerted about the situation, and coordination is maintained with security agencies and humanitarian entities to establish the whereabouts of the uniformed men. So far, it has not been confirmed which armed group would be responsible for the kidnapping, although structures such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissidents of the former FARC operate in this area of eastern Colombia.
Arauca continues to be one of the departments most affected by the presence of illegal armed groups, clashes between criminal organizations and violent actions against the public force and the civilian population.. According to recent reports from humanitarian organizations, forced displacements, confinements and an increase in acts of violence have been recorded in the region during the last year.
The Ombudsman’s Office has insisted on the need to respect International Humanitarian Law and guarantee the protection of all people who do not directly participate in hostilitiesincluding members of the public force when they are out of combat or in captivity. Likewise, she has expressed her willingness to act as a mediator in cases of kidnapping or illegal detention to facilitate humanitarian solutions.
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The National Government has not officially commented on the case so far. Meanwhile, the Ombudsman’s Office reiterated its call to armed groups to release all persons deprived of their liberty and to respect the life and integrity of those kidnapped.
Source: Integrated Information System
