06:30 PM
The clashes between the Public force and the dissidents of FARC Central General Staff In Cauca they left the civilian population in half. In a district of the municipality of Suárez there are 350 people confined in a church with the fear that the bullets will be heard again.
“The community at this time expects that the Government entities tell us that the total sweep has already been done and that the guarantees are given for the return to our homes“said Silvio Chará, community leader of the town of La Toma, in dialogue with EL COLOMBIANO.
Read More: 200 uniformed Special Forces arrived to reinforce the offensive against dissidents in Cauca
The community completes 72 hours taking refuge in a Christian church. They arrived there after the dissidents launched an attack against a military garrison in the early morning this Monday, May 20 in Suárez.
“The clashes began at 2:00 in the morning. At around 9 a.m. on Monday, the Cimarrona Guard and the Community Council took white flags and, almost in the middle of the crossfire, we had to remove the entire community that was left in the middle of the armed actors“added Chará.
In the church the community adapted a kitchen and mats. The children receive classes through distance workshops because the school closed and the elderly spend the day in the corridors of the religious center.
Find out: “Trojan Horse”: this was the criminal operation of dissidents against police in Cauca
EL COLOMBIANO also contacted authorities in Suárez, who stated that the humanitarian situation exceeded their capabilities but, even so, they have sent humanitarian aid to the site to try to serve the displaced community.
Humanitarian aid has arrived at the site and the community insists that the area be swept to rule out any unexploded explosives left in the middle of the road to their homes.
“The insistence is on the National Government and the armed groups to get us out of the conflict. Its presence in the territory does not add to us nor does it detract from us. We just want them to let us live in peace, we are not participants in this armed conflict“added Chará.
To know more: Why do the FARC dissidents of Cauca and Valle have so much criminal power?
The public order situation in Cauca has been tense since early Monday morning, when the dissidents decided to simultaneously attack a police station in Morales – which left four dead – and the military garrison in Suárez. The Army ensured a total offensive against illegals in the southwest of the country.
In fact, President Gustavo Petro traveled to Cauca to be in charge of the public order situation. The Military Forces also sent 200 uniformed Special Forces to reinforce security.
