By: Katerin Erazo, Journalist
Photo taken from: Radio Nacional de Colombia
after a weekend marked Due to intense fighting in the rural area of the municipality of Argelia, in the west of the department of Cauca, the country is shaken by the revelation of atrocious acts perpetrated by members of the Central General Staff (EMC) against four soldiers who fell in action. In response to this escalation of violence, the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, has ordered extremely forceful operations against what is considered the largest dissidence of the extinct FARC guerrilla.
The presidential order, issued from his social networks on the night of Sunday, May 5, denotes a firm and determined stance of the Colombian president in the face of these reprehensible acts. “The offensive against the EMC in Cauca must be total. They are murderers of the people and traffickers. If the president has to go, the president will go,” Petro said.
National indignation increased after the release of a tweet by the Ministry of Defense, which reported the desecration of the bodies of fallen soldiers, constituting a flagrant act against International Humanitarian Law (IHL). “The members of the self-proclaimed Central General Staff, by order of alias ‘Dumar’ and in a cowardly manner, desecrate the bodies of the soldiers, insult and disrespect them,” the authorities denounced.
In the midst of the confrontation, the members of the EMC tried to camouflage the lifeless bodies of the uniformed men in order to withdraw from the area before the siege of the military forces. However, their attempts were frustrated when the bodies were discovered and stripped of their military equipment by order of the insurgent leader, alias ‘Dumar’, who has been identified as the leader of the Alberto Poño Company of the Carlos Patiño structure.
The voice of ‘Dumar’ echoed in a macabre audio in which he can be heard instructing his subordinates not to take prisoners and to behead the members of the Army. This evidence, which has shocked the country, has been shared with international organizations and military units to inform them about the intentions of the dissidents.
General Helder Giraldo, leader of the Military Forces, has led the process to recover the remains of the fallen and has welcomed the injured soldiers, who were received with widespread applause from their colleagues. In a press conference, the commander revealed that the attacked unit was carrying out a humanitarian mission to facilitate the return of a displaced community in Algeria.
These events have buried any ceasefire initiative in Cauca, where the violence perpetrated by the FARC has left a trail of destruction and pain. The constant attacks with explosives, both on the civilian population and on the Public Force, have plunged the region into a state of instability and terror.
Faced with this situation, President Petro has reaffirmed his commitment to security and peace in Colombia, promising a firm and determined response against those who threaten the country’s stability. With intensive operations and forceful actions, the Government seeks to restore peace and security in the department of Cauca and throughout the national territory.
According to Paola Marín, researcher of the Peace Line, Post-Conflict and Human Rights of the Peace & Reconciliation Foundation (Pares), the activation of offensive actions against the General Staff in Cauca is directly related to the recent combats in Algeria and the escalation of the bloc western, which has an overwhelming presence in 98% of the department of Cauca, leaving only two municipalities without its influence. This change in the National Government’s strategy, which could be interpreted as a show of firmness, also responds to the lack of will shown by the Western bloc led by Jacobo Arenas.
Besides the serious situation that afflicts Cauca, the department of Arauca, located on the border of Colombia, is also facing an escalation of violence that has plunged its inhabitants into a state of constant terror. In the midst of the expansion of guerrillas and dissident groups, the civilian population is caught in a relentless war for control of illegal territories and resources, such as the planting of illicit crops.
According to the Ombudsman’s Office, Arauca has become a scenario where the civilian population is immersed in a continuous atmosphere of terror. The presence of guerrillas, specifically the ELN in this department, has worsened the humanitarian crisis, showing an alarming increase in forced displacements, recruitment of minors, murders and severe restrictions on free mobility.
Given this alarming situation, the Ombudsman, Carlos Camargo Assis, has issued an urgent call to the Minister of the Interior, Luis Fernando Velasco, requesting the convening of an extraordinary session of the Intersectoral Commission for Rapid Response to Early Warnings. The objective is to take immediate measures to contain the violation of the rights of the inhabitants of Arauca.
“It is imperative that national and territorial authorities strengthen their presence in the different municipalities of the department and continue providing the necessary attention to its inhabitants,” said Camargo Assis. In addition, he urged the formulation and application of prevention and protection strategies to mitigate the effects generated by the armed conflict.
The Intersectoral Commission for Rapid Response to Early Warnings is carefully analyzing the situations warned by the Early Warning System of the Ombudsman’s Office. These include the risk of displacement and confinement, as well as the implementation of actions to protect vulnerable communities.
According to official data, in the first quarter of the year there have been 41 homicides in Arauca, along with 59 missing people, presumably in the hands of illegal armed groups. However, the Ombudsman’s Office warns that the underreporting of cases could be greater, since many families do not report for fear of retaliation.
In addition to direct violence against the civilian population, threats against social leaders and human rights defenders in the region persist. Restrictions on mobility are also reported in rural areas, with specific schedules that limit the freedom of movement of the inhabitants.
Paola Marín, Pares researcher, highlighted that in Arauca the presence of the ELN extends to all municipalities, and the confrontations between the Central General Staff and the ELN have worsened. Marín explained that what is happening with them is that, historically, they have managed to reach non-aggression agreements, but recently the situation has worsened noticeably. This also coincides with the recognition of the department’s historical leaders.
An example that the researcher mentions is that the Central General Staff has perpetrated attacks against prominent social leaders, some of whom have been victims of homicide. Likewise, both the State and the ELN have generated humanitarian situations around these social leaders.
Given this desperate situation, it is urgent that the authorities take effective measures to protect the civilian population and guarantee their safety in Arauca, as well as in Cauca. Peace and stability in these regions depend on the commitment and decisive action of all actors involved in the conflict.
