By: Katerin Erazo, Journalist
Photo taken from: El Espectador
Tensions rise in the departments del Valle and Cauca in response to the recent alert issued by the country’s Military Forces about a possible kidnapping of deputies by the armed group GAOr Carlos Patiño, of the Central General Staff. This statement, signed by Major General Erik Rodríguez Aparicio, commander of the N.2 South West joint command, has generated concern in the region and has implemented extraordinary security measures.
The missive, addressed to Colonel Giovanni Cristancho Zambrano, commander of the Police of the department of Valle, urges to be alert to a potential guerrilla incursion against the elected officials of both departments. In a context where security and stability are paramount, the authorities have intensified efforts to prevent any eventuality that puts the integrity of local political leaders at risk.
The memory of the tragic kidnapping of 12 Valle deputies in 2002 is still fresh in the collective memory. That dark episode, where officials were kidnapped from the Valle del Cauca Assembly itself, continues to be an open wound in the recent history of the region. Given this precedent, the authorities have committed to guaranteeing the safety and protection of each of the political actors, implementing preventive strategies and strengthening security devices in vulnerable areas.
Colonel Cristancho, head of the Valle Police, has stated that he is verifying the information provided by the Military Forces and activating human intelligence sources to gather more details about this potential threat. “We are with all the security protocols,” the officer emphasized, underscoring the importance of prevention and protection against possible risks.
Uncertainty worsens amid constant clashes between dissidents and the Army in the region. Last Thursday afternoon, the Military Forces confirmed a significant blow against the Carlos Patiño structure, with the death of 15 guerrillas in the town of El Plateado, in the south of Cauca. This operation, the result of a collaboration between the National Army and the Colombian Air Force, is an example of the State’s determination to combat the criminal activities of these armed groups.
However, violence persists in the Micay Canyon region, where FARC dissidents continue to perpetrate illegal operations, including drug trafficking control, extortion, and the forced recruitment of minors. The El Plateado area has witnessed terrorist attacks and murders, underscoring the urgency of coordinated action by authorities to restore peace and order in the region. See: (The conflict in Cauca and the challenge of the lost peace)
The confrontation between State forces and illegal armed groups has triggered a forceful response from the authorities, who have deployed more troops to the area to reinforce the offensive against these criminal structures. With the millimeter precision of the weapons used, the aim is to minimize collateral damage and protect the civilian population from possible harm during military operations.
Brigadier General Federico Mejía, commander of the Cauca Specific Command, has highlighted the importance of this military operation, pointing out that it was executed with perfectly established targets. The use of heavy artillery, such as howitzer guns and long-range mortars, demonstrates the State’s determination to neutralize those who threaten security and stability in the region.
The presence and actions of the Central General Staff in the region have been a focus of violence and destabilization, which has justified a forceful response from the authorities. With the mobilization of more troops to the area, it is expected to consolidate the progress in the fight against criminal structures that operate in the territory, marking a firm commitment to restore peace and order in one of the departments most affected by the armed conflict. In colombia.
The alert issued by the Military Forces about the possible kidnapping of deputies in Valle and Cauca has highlighted the security challenges facing the region. Faced with this latent threat, the authorities have reinforced their protection measures and have intensified efforts to prevent any action that puts the lives of local political leaders at risk. In a context marked by violence and uncertainty, the State’s commitment to guaranteeing security and stability in the region remains fundamental for the well-being of all citizens.
