
By Ministerio de Defensa del Perú
Over the weekend, more than 80 individuals lost their lives in northeastern Colombia after the government’s unsuccessful attempts to negotiate peace with the National Liberation Army, according to a local official. Additionally, twenty others sustained injuries in the violence, which has led to thousands fleeing the area as Colombia’s military worked to evacuate residents on Sunday, as reported by William Villamizar, the governor of North Santander, where many of the incidents occurred.
Among those killed were community leader Carmelo Guerrero and seven individuals who were attempting to finalize a peace agreement, as detailed in a report released by a government ombudsman agency late Saturday. Officials indicated that the violence erupted in several towns within the Catatumbo region, close to the Venezuelan border, with at least three participants in the peace talks reported as kidnapped.
A significant number of individuals are evacuating the region, with some taking refuge in the nearby verdant mountains or seeking assistance at government-operated shelters.
“We found ourselves in the midst of the conflict,” stated Juan Gutierrez, who, along with his family, sought refuge in a temporary shelter in Tibu after being forced to abandon their livestock and possessions. “We have no opportunity to collect our belongings. … I hope the government does not forget about us. … We feel powerless in this situation.”
On Sunday, Colombia’s military conducted a rescue operation, saving numerous individuals, including a family and their pet dog. The dog’s owner applied a pack of cold water to the animal’s chest to keep it cool during their helicopter evacuation.
Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez visited the northeastern town of Cucuta on Sunday, where he convened several security meetings and called on armed groups to disband.
The foremost objective is to preserve lives and ensure the safety of communities,” he stated. “We have stationed our forces across the entire region.”
Officials are also preparing to dispatch 10 tons of food and hygiene supplies for around 5,000 individuals in the Ocaña and Tibu communities, most of whom have fled from the violence.
“Catatumbo is in urgent need of assistance,” Villamizar commented during a public address on Saturday. “Children, adolescents, and entire families are arriving with nothing, using trucks, dump trucks, motorbikes, or even walking, in an effort to escape the conflict.”
The assault follows Colombia’s decision to suspend peace negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN) on Friday, marking the second such suspension within a year. The Colombian government has insisted that the ELN halt all hospitality and permit authorities to access the area to deliver humanitarian assistance.
“Displacement is destroying our community,” stated José Trinidad, a municipal official from Convention in the North Santander region. “We are concerned that the situation will deteriorate further.”
Trinidad urges insurgent factions to engage in dialogue and reach a new agreement to ensure that “civilians do not continue to bear the brunt of the current crisis.”
The National Liberation Army (ELN) has been engaged in confrontations in Catatumbo with former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a guerrilla organization that ceased operations following a peace agreement with the Colombian government in 2016.
The conflict centers around the control of a vital border area known for its coca leaf cultivation. In a statement released on Saturday, the ELN cautioned ex-FARC members that if they persisted in their attacks against the local population, the only resolution would be through armed conflict. The ELN has accused former FARC fighters of multiple homicides in the region, including the tragic killing of a couple and their nine-month-old child on January 15.
Army commander General Luis Emilio Cardozo Santamaría announced on Saturday that efforts are ongoing to strengthen a humanitarian corridor connecting Tibú and Cúcuta, ensuring safe passage for individuals who have been forced to leave their residences. He also indicated that specialized urban troops had been dispatched to municipal capitals where there were significant risks and heightened fear among the population.
The ELN has made five attempts to negotiate a peace agreement with President Gustavo Petro’s administration, but these discussions have repeatedly collapsed due to incidents of violence. Among the ELN’s demands is the recognition of its status as a political rebel organization, a request that has raised concerns among critics regarding its potential implications.