The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, assured that the guerrilla of the National Liberation Army (ELN) is transforming into an organization “narcoarmed” and that given the offensive that has been undertaken in Catatumbo against a dissidence of the FARC that has left more than 80 dead, “there will be war.”
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“The ELN has chosen the path of war and it will have war. We, the Government, are on the side of the people”Petro said in a message on his X account where he added that “It is up to the current Army, the Army of the Constitution, to save and protect the population of Catatumbo from the ELN, its murderer.”
This is the president’s first statement since he announced on Friday the suspension of peace talks with the ELN due to “war crimes” that was committing in Catatumbo.
The clashes in that region with a FARC dissident have left about 80 dead, more than 20 injured and more than 11,000 people displaced, mainly towards the urban capitals of Cúcuta, Ocaña and Tibú, cities in Norte de Santander, the department to which Catatumbo belongs.
“What happened in Catatumbo is nothing more than another demonstration of the transition from insurgent guerrillas to narco-armed organizations,” Petro added.
The president assured that the “massacre” that the ELN is committing “It perfectly reflects the actions of the paramilitary groups, when, led by (former head of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia Salvatore) Mancuso, they arrived in the area: massacre of civilian peasants, in a state of defenselessness. War crimes everywhere.”
For this reason, the president promised to confront this “mafioso ELN”, despite the fact that the Army has not yet been able to enter many of the rural areas where the guerrillas He is imposing his authority and has been on a warpath since Thursday.
The Army announced that it would move 300 men to the area, but the Minister of Defense, Iván Velásquez, assured yesterday who are focused on bringing humanitarian aid to the displaced and rescuing threatened peace signatories and social leaders.
Alarming situation
The governor of the department of Norte de Santander, where Catatumbo is located, William Villamizar, yesterday estimated the number of murdered in more than 80 and more than 20 injured, although it has not yet been possible to access all the areas where there has been fighting.
Furthermore, the ombudsman, Iris Marín, assured that there are “at least 11,000 displaced people and there may be many more,” Above all, they have reached Cúcuta, Ocaña and Tibú.
“There are indistinct attacks on combatants and civilians who are accused of collaborating with one group or the other for the simple fact of being family members or close people. Among the victims are social leaders, peace signatories and people with special constitutional protection, including boys and girls”said Marín, who traveled to the area.
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The defender added: “There are many displaced children, confined or kidnapped babies, people with disabilities, pregnant women, indigenous people, people with special health needs.”
For its part, the ELN released a statement yesterday that has been reinforced with a column today from its leader, ‘Antonio García’, ensuring that The five murdered peace signers were actually back in arms with the FARC dissidents.
“The objective of our actions is the armed group of the 33rd front of the ex-FARC, its armed militias and its economic structure; therefore, the so-called ‘peace signatories’ who have been discharged in the operations carried out were not civilians. but active militia leaders and finance managers of the 33rd”, the ELN’s Northeastern War Front said in a statement.
Besides, ‘Antonio Garcia’ assured that the counselor commissioner of peace, Otty Patiño, “He has been acting as a military commander,” well “One of his favorite guidelines is to order the discharge of members of the Central Command (of the ELN).”
state of shock
Given the wave of violence that is being experienced in the Catatumbo region (Norte de Santander), and as was already being contemplated, the National Government has made the determination to declare the state of internal commotion and economic emergency.
This was confirmed by President Gustavo Petro through his X account. “The state of internal commotion and the state of economic emergency are declared. I expect support from the judiciary,” said the president.
EFE
