The Minister of Defense, Iván Velásquez, assures that there are several reasons why violence has increased in the departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca, among them a decision that he maintains occurred in the administration of Iván Duque and caused a weakening of the public force in the territory.
“An unfortunate decision made in the previous government to withdraw the Alta Montaña Battalion from the municipality, which carried out important work in the region, was taken advantage of by the dissidents to strengthen themselves.“, stated the minister to Time.
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That has been one of the requests of the governor of Valle, Dilian Francisca Toro, for the Government to return the Infantry Battalion No. 8 ‘Battle of Pichincha’, which according to what she said around 600 soldiers had been transferred, which is why she demanded that they will be resumed.
Minister Velásquez assures that the properties where the battalion was located were invaded, so they are taking action with the governor of Valle and the mayor of Jamundí to locate land where that unit can be established again.
Since the beginning of this year, agreements have been reached to return the battalion to the territory, as part of the strategy to increase territorial control in the southwest of the country, which for the Minister of Defense is one of the reasons why they have increased attacks in the region.
“What happens is that the order given to the Public Force to consolidate territorial control of Cauca has also been carried out in the north of the department.which borders the south of Valle del Cauca and, particularly, the municipality of Jamundí, where the ‘Jaime Martínez’ front of the Emc has had a presence,” explained the minister.
In that sense, he maintains that the terrorist violence that has occurred in Jamundí, where two motorcycle bombs have been detonated in less than 30 days, seeks to distract the public forces so that they reduce the operations they carry out in Cauca.
Furthermore, the objectives of the EMC would be to pressure the Government in order to restore the ceasefire in Cauca, Nariño and Valle del Cauca. However, Velásquez maintains that this possibility is null because due to the attacks a new truce will not even be considered.
Precisely another of the reasons given by the Minister of Defense for the increase in violence is to prevent the return of the battalion, because the control of the north of Cauca and the south of the Valley will generate effects on the drug trafficking and illegal mining business that are carried out. in that strategic area.
According to the minister, the Micay canyon is a key point for coca and the illicit exploitation of natural resources to reach international markets.of main interest to the armed groups, in which the Second Marquetalia also seeks to consolidate itself, which has undertaken a fight to the death in the territory.
In order to take over these territories, which were dominated by dissidents after the signing of the peace agreement, a plan has been undertaken to strengthen the military forces that includes the incorporation of 16,000 professional soldiers for the Army and 20,000 men and women for the Police. .
“This strengthening of the Public Force is essential for both peace and war,” said Minister Velásquez.who maintains that the purpose is to generate security conditions throughout the territory, as well as combat armed organizations to dismantle them and force them to negotiate their submission to justice.
“The public order situation in Colombia is complex and dynamic, influenced by political, economic and social factors, but this does not mean in any way that the Ministry of Defense has lost control of public order,” said Velásquez.
