Renewed Guerrilla Violence in Colombia Leaves Over 80 Dead, Thousands Displaced
A surge in guerrilla violence amid Colombia’s fragile peace process has resulted in more than 80 deaths, including civilians, and forced approximately 11,000 people to flee their homes within four days, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The Colombian army has responded by deploying 5,000 troops to the Catatumbo region, a key area for cocaine production and the center of an intensifying territorial conflict.
According to officials, the National Liberation Army (ELN) launched an attack last Thursday against a rival faction made up of ex-members of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who continued their armed struggle despite the group’s official disarmament in 2017.
Caught in the crossfire, civilians faced extreme danger, with Governor William Villamizar of Norte de Santander reporting that more than 80 people had been killed by Sunday.
Mass Displacement and Desperate Escapes
Over the weekend, thousands of terrified residents fled on overcrowded motorcycles, boats, and trucks to escape the escalating violence.
Many sought refuge in Tibú, where shelters were set up, while others crossed into Venezuela, returning to a country they had previously fled due to economic and political instability.
In response, Venezuela launched a “special operation” to assist the displaced, stating that hundreds of families had arrived seeking safety.
“For me, as a Colombian, leaving my homeland is heartbreaking,” said Geovanny Valero, a 45-year-old farmer who fled to Venezuela. He expressed hope that the situation in Catatumbo would be resolved soon so he could return.
House-to-House Killings and Humanitarian Crisis
Iris Marín, head of Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office, reported that at least 11,000 people had been displaced in just four days, though the true number could be even higher.
She described the dire situation in a video shared on social media:
“There are indiscriminate attacks on both combatants and civilians accused of siding with one group or another.”
Governor Villamizar urged the warring factions to establish humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to escape safely.
Eyewitnesses and officials recounted house-to-house executions carried out by ELN fighters targeting suspected supporters of the FARC dissidents.
The Ombudsman’s Office warned that community leaders, ex-FARC fighters who signed the 2016 peace deal, and even children faced the threat of abduction or assassination. Many have fled into the mountains for safety.
Army commander Luis Emilio Cardozo confirmed reports of guerrillas forcibly removing civilians from their homes before executing them.
To assist displaced residents, the military has opened bases as shelters and begun distributing food to affected communities. Schools in the conflict zone have also been converted into temporary shelters, and classes remain suspended.
Colombian Defense Minister Iván Velásquez traveled to Cúcuta, located 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Tibú, to oversee military operations against the guerrillas.
Peace Talks in Jeopardy as Violence Escalates
The latest bloodshed underscores the fragility of Colombia’s 2016 peace deal, which disarmed the FARC but failed to eliminate violence from leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries, and drug cartels.
Despite its ideological roots, the ELN is heavily involved in the drug trade, making it one of Colombia’s most powerful armed groups. With 5,800 fighters, it remains a significant force despite multiple failed peace negotiations with successive governments.
In recent days, the ELN has also clashed with the Gulf Clan, Colombia’s largest drug cartel, leaving at least nine people dead in another part of northern Colombia.
On Friday, President Gustavo Petro responded to the escalating violence by suspending peace talks with the ELN, which had been part of his broader “total peace” strategy.
In a strongly worded statement on X (formerly Twitter), Petro condemned the ELN’s actions:
“The ELN has shown no real intention to make peace. Their actions amount to war crimes.”
As Colombia grapples with yet another cycle of violence, the future of its peace process remains uncertain, with thousands of displaced families left to bear the brunt of ongoing guerrilla warfare.
No comments:
Post a Comment