Despite the fact that the ceasefire was signed with the ELN, Defense Minister Iván Velázquez indicated that the Military Forces will continue operations focused on illegal mining, drug trafficking, kidnapping and extortion.
Web/LN Writing
Defense Minister Iván Velásquez said that the Military Forces have orders to continue with the operations against the ELN subversive group, in terms of extortion, drug trafficking, illegal mining and kidnappings, which they carry out in various regions of the country, despite of the signing of the bilateral cessation between the National Government and the ELN.
However, the head of this ministry indicated that only the operational actions against the members of the ELN will be suspended.
“We have imparted to the Military Forces that in terms of carrying out decisive actions against criminal finances with all their capacities, whether or not they are in cessation, and in that there must be absolute clarity. Military and police with the legal powers they have, are obliged and authorized by law, to continue carrying out these operations against criminal finances”, Velasquez said.
The minister was also emphatic that despite the signing of the bilateral cessation between the ELN and the National Government, there will be no permissibility for this illegal armed group to continue criminal actions. Likewise, the senior official pointed out that he does not know the entire text of the ceasefire signature and as soon as it is known, the rules will be established.
Likewise, the commander of the Armed Forces, Helder Giraldo Bonilla, revealed the latest balance on the offensive operations against the ELN, at a time when a bilateral cessation with that guerrilla materialized. In total, there are more than 132 affectations, adding to the two captures of two important leaders who committed crimes in the department of Arauca, who were in command of the ‘Rafael Villamizar’ Commission of the ‘Domingo Laín Sáenz’ Front.
