Bogota. Two attacks with explosives perpetrated on Friday in the southwest of Colombia claimed the life of a soldier and left more than a dozen people injured, including two uniformed personnel, reported the authorities who pointed to the dissidents of the defunct Armed Forces as those allegedly responsible. Revolutionaries of Colombia (FARC).
The soldier who died was identified as Pedro Rojas Fonseca, an experienced military officer with an 18-year career, who was patrolling in El Plateado, a rural town in the southwest of Colombia besieged by armed groups in which the authorities have tried to regain control.
The Army detailed in a statement that the wounded soldier, Carlos Rangel Pérez, is under guard and will be airlifted to receive medical attention.
A motorcycle loaded with explosives would have been located in the main park of El Plateado, apparently by “urban militias belonging to the Carlos Patiño residual structure,” the report added.
The Carlos Patiño structure belongs to the dissident Central General Staff of the extinct FARC, formed by those who refused to comply with the peace agreement signed with the state in 2016. This structure renounced since April to negotiate peace with the government of the leftist Gustavo Petro and intensified attacks with explosives in the southwest of the country.
The attack occurred when a government event aimed at residents was about to begin, in which medical brigades, recreation, donations and cultural activities would take place. The Army pointed out that despite the attack, the event will not be canceled and will have a “reinforcement of the security devices already present in the township.”
“This attack is an example of the cruelty with which violent groups act,” reproached the Minister of Defense, Iván Velásquez. “However, these events only strengthen our determination to continue with the deployment of our forces and with the activities of the day of comprehensive action,” he added.
El Plateado is located in the Micay Canyon, a mountain range in which illicit coca leaf crops—raw material for cocaine—abound.
The area has been disputed by armed groups for decades because it is a strategic corridor that connects with the Pacific. Currently, the greatest control is held by the FARC dissidents.
President Petro has set himself the goal of wresting control of El Plateado from the dissidents, which is why since October he ordered a military incursion and the sending of officials from his ministerial portfolios to offer all types of services, in a town with a low state presence. .
In parallel, another explosive detonated in the urban area of Jamundí, part of the metropolitan area of the city of Cali, leaving 15 injured, including a police officer, according to a preliminary report.
The explosive was installed on a tricycle with a motor and detonated as a police car passed by, in which only one agent was driving, Colonel Germán Manrique, commander of the Cali Metropolitan Police, told the press.
The uniformed officer indicated that the hypothesis they have suggests that the attack was carried out by the dissidents that are present in the rural area of Jamundí and could be retaliation for recent seizures of supplies used for the production of cocaine.
In Jamundí, three attacks with explosives have been reported in less than 48 hours, the state Ombudsman’s Office warned on Friday, calling on the armed forces to respect the rights of the civilian population.
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What are some underlying socio-economic factors that have led to the emergence of FARC dissidents in Colombia, and how do they impact the local population?
Thank you for the article. It’s quite disturbing to hear about these attacks in Colombia.
Here are some questions I’d like to ask the guests:
1. The article mentions that the attacks were carried out by FARC dissidents. What factors are contributing to the rise of these dissident groups and their willingness to use violence?
2. According to the Minister of Defense, these attacks only strengthen their resolve to continue with the deployment of troops and services in the area. Is this the right approach? What other approaches could be considered to address the issues in El Plateado and surrounding regions?
3. The area has been disputed by various armed groups for decades due to its strategic location and presence of illicit crops. How can the government work towards reducing the influence of these groups and promoting peace in the region?
4. The police officer who was injured in the second attack mentioned that it could be retaliation for recent seizures of supplies used for cocaine production. How does the presence of such groups impact local communities and everyday life?
5. The Ombudsman’s Office has called for respect of civilians’ rights during military operations. What specific steps can the government and military take to ensure they are protecting civilians while also addressing the threat posed by these armed groups?
