Executive Secretary of COP16 speaks out on the security situation in Valle del Cauca after the attack in Jamundí and answers if this will have an impact on the event

The incident occurred in the morning hours when an explosion in the center of Jamundí caused damage to one of Bancolombia’s banking entities, an act that would have been perpetrated by the ‘Jaime Martínez’ front. But also, in the rural area of ​​the municipality, in the town of Potrerito, detonations of firearms were recorded from the early hours of the morning.

“We have had several difficult months in our municipality. This morning we suffered two simultaneous attacks, one of which was harassment in the rural area of ​​Potrerito that fortunately did not report any injuries, but once again they broke into the tranquility of our population. There was an attack in the urban area, near the banking area, in the center of Jamundí, where at the beginning there were painfully four civilians injured, one of them seriously, apparently of foreign origin. He was referred to Cali, to the Fundación Valle del Lili clinic,” said the mayor of Jamundí, Paola Castillo. ​

For her part, the governor of Valle, Dilian Francisca Toro, requested urgent support from the national government. “As I have proposed, on different occasions, the central government must lead the articulation of a comprehensive intervention in the Colombian Pacific, supporting the Police and the Army with increased strength and logistics, as well as the installation of the Infantry Battalion Number 8 Battle of Pichincha in the high mountain area of ​​Jamundí to guarantee territorial control. But also, as I expressed it at the Security Council in Tuluá, with a crop substitution plan and social intervention in the territories; purpose in which he has all our willingness and support to move forward from the Government of Valle,” said Toro.

The attack in the urban area of ​​the municipality left six people injured, including a sergeant and a police patrol vehicle who were in the area. While in the event recorded in the rural area there is, at the moment, no record of affected people.

But there is alarm not only in the department of Valle del Cauca. Also in the early hours of this Wednesday in Cajibío (Cauca), FARC dissidents shot at the municipality’s Police station. No injuries were reported in the event.

Only on May 20, in Morales (Cauca) two police officers were murdered and at least three more people were injured in another harassment. At that time in Suárez, Silvia and Jambaló, attacks on the Public Force were also reported.

All of these towns that are part of the Pacific region are just a couple of hours from Cali, but their serious security situation puts experts under alarm, considering that there are just over five months left for that city to receive more than 12,000 visitors including presidents, global leaders, ministers and experts who will be participating in COP16.

Given this, EL TIEMPO consulted David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the COP, regarding the events recorded today in Jamundí and in general the serious security situation that the region is going through today and if this could have any impact on development. of the meeting.

The diplomat highlighted that security is a key issue for both the UN and the Presidency of Colombia and that they are currently working closely with the country’s government so that there are no problems and the event can take place as planned.

“The safety of the delegates to COP-16 is paramount and the highest priority for the Secretariat, the United Nations and the Colombian Presidency. “United Nations security services are working closely with Colombian security services to ensure that the Conference can proceed safely and as planned and to keep the situation under constant review.”Cooper noted.