Twitter suspended, this Tuesday, April 4, 2023, the account of the top commander of the National Liberation Army (ELN), Eliécer Chamorro, alias Antonio García, lAfter he threatened the journalist Maria Alejandra Villamizar for a column he published in the Spanish newspaper The country criticizing that armed group.
(See: This is the reason why Francia Márquez cannot enter Cauca).
When opening the @antonioGcdte account, the following appears: ‘Suspended account. Twitter suspends accounts that violate the Twitter Rules‘.
Threat against Villamizar
In the column, titled ‘Nobody is eternal in the world’, Villamizar, journalist from Snail News, pointed out that the guerrillas believe that “with their premises of revolution they can continue with weapons and explosives to stay in force“.
He also criticized the last Colombian governments and the ELN for “not finding the loophole to disarm this senseless army that feeds on the old glories that the rebels wielded and raise flags in the name of those who today do not recognize them but the fear they arouse“.
Therefore, Antonio García said that “pain hurts the same on both sides, that’s why we must respect each other” and mentioned, in addition to Villamizar, the director of the Weekly magazine, Vicky Davila.
(See: The reasons why Petro ended the cessation with the ‘Gulf clan’).
“María Alejandra Villamizar says that ‘nobody is eternal in the world’, referring to the ELN. She replied with the same song by her favorite singer, Darío Gómez: “You will suffer, you will cry while you get used to losing, then you will resign yourself when you no longer see me.”‘” the guerrilla leader said on Twitter.
After receiving the message, Villamizar responded to Garcia and said that the column “apparently it hurt the ELN“.
(See: Victims of the conflict receive 329 assets seized from paramilitaries).
“I tell Antonio García yes, I hope I don’t see him in arms again. peace awaits you“, the journalist wrote on her social networks.
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro He came out in defense of press freedom, “one of the pillars of any democracy” and rejected “threatening messages against journalists” Villamizar and Dávila.
“Any man who has control over weapons and talks to unarmed journalists, without their will, should know that their very presence, their very word can pose a potential threat. It is, de facto, a breach of freedom“added the president on Twitter.
Meanwhile, the Foundation for the Freedom of the Press (Flip) rejection “categorically the intimidation made by the commander” of the guerrilla against the journalists.
(See: This is how the peace talks would impact the business climate in Colombia).
“We urge the ELN and other armed groups that are in peace negotiations with the Government or submission to justice, to cease threats, intimidation and harassment of the press“, the agency said in a Twitter thread.
Crisis in the peace negotiations
Last Friday, March 31, the Government admitted that the peace negotiations with the ELN are in crisis and asked the guerrillas to say if they are using the talks to strengthen themselves or if they have a real desire to put an end to the armed conflict.
This after the attack perpetrated on Wednesday of last week by that group in the department of Norte de Santander that left nnine soldiers killed and nine wounded.
Despite this, the Government does not intend to get up from the negotiating table that has already held two rounds, one in Caracas and the other in Mexico City, and the third will be installed after Easter in Havana.
In it attack with explosives and rifle shots in Guamalito, a corregimiento in the municipality of El Carmen (Norte de Santander), two non-commissioned officers and seven soldiers who were doing their military service died, and nine other soldiers were wounded.
EFE
