Peasants from the southwest of Nariño are demanding that humanitarian demining be carried out in the area so that they can return peacefully to their farms and homes. located in the La Florida village, where the ELN guerrilla is present.
This is one of the almost 33 villages in the municipalities of Samaniego, La Llanada and Santa Cruz de Guachez, where its inhabitants, more than 2,000 residents, have not yet returned. and in which the traces left by the war that occurred at the end of 2023 between illegal armed groups can still be seen in the homes.
To reach this territory it can be done by road from Pasto, from where it is more than 16 hours away. Once in the territory, the presence of the ELN guerrilla is notable, marking their dominance there with red and black flags.
Photo: Blu Radio.
Upon reaching this remote area of Nariño, you can see on the faces of the few inhabitants the uncertainty of what may happen with the peace talks. and in low voices they say that I hope the ELN can resolve its internal problems and that the dialogues continue, both at the national and regional levels.
Some inhabitants began to return slowly after more than 8 months of displacement due to the armed confrontation that left more than 50 dead between guerrillas of the FARC Dissidents, ELN guerrillas and members of the so-called Second Marquetalia.
“Suddenly what happened the other time happened and the clashes, That’s scary because we’ve already lost everything and no one is helping, they just talk and talk.but there is nothing concrete from the national government,” said one of the residents.
Carlos, for his part, returned a week ago, says not to record his face because he assures that the fear still continues and says that his business is about to go bankrupt. Because the comparators of vegetables and other products disappeared, they do not want to return for fear of the anti-personnel mines that were planted by the groups in confrontation.
This merchant, with an almost clipped voice, affirms that “when it was first built this was good.” Well, in their case, “they sold between three and four million”, while today they sell, some days, up to 2,000 pesos.
This is one of the towns with the largest population, however, Those who decided to stay and a few others who arrived can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
Those who have risked returning are confident that once humanitarian demining is launched they will all be able to return to their farms and businesses to work. That is why they ask that, despite the freezing of peace talks with the ELN, President Petro not abandon Nariño and demand that national and territorial peace talks continue.
