Colombia: demand truce between illegal armed groups
Human rights organizations, including the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), have urged an immediate end to violence between illegal armed groups in the northeast Colombian region of Catatumbo. WOLA joined the Colombian movement "Defendamos la Paz" in a call for armed groups in Catatumbo to suspend their conflict. In the Jan. 19 statement, WOLA wrote: "The Ejercito Nacional de Liberación (ELN) must cease human rights violations and adopt a truce to halt armed confrontations with Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) dissidents." The rights organizations also called on the Colombian government to provide immediate humanitarian aid for the large number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region. WOLA urged the armed groups involved to "respect international humanitarian law and allow relief efforts to reach those in need."
The Colombian Ombudsman's office (Defensoría del Pueblo) reported on the situation in Catatumbo Jan. 18, stating that more than 11,000 people had been displaced in the past four days. Additionally, available data shows that at least 60 people have died, including Carmelo Guerrero, the leader of the Association of Peasant Unity of Catatumbo (ASUNCAT). On Jan. 16, at least 20 individuals were abducted by the armed groups, of which 17 are not yet free. Colombian ombudsperson Iris Marín Ortiz called the situation one of the worst humanitarian crises faced by Catatumbo, key smuggling route along the Venezuelan border. Ortiz also recalled that the Ombudsman's office had already alerted the government on the gravity of the situation in November.
The situation in Catatumbo is related to the ongoing conflict between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and FARC "dissidents." While the government of Colombia signed a peace accord with the FARC in 2016, "dissident" factions remained in arms, and an agreement with the ELN has been deemed more difficult. The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, described the actions by ELN in Catatumbo as war crimes and stated the Colombian government has suspended any dialogue with the group. Earlier in 2024, Petro suspended ceasefire agreements with another FARC "dissident" group, the Estado Mayor Central (EMC) in Cauca region, due to violent acts. The FARC faction in Catatumbo is identified as the Estado Mayor de los Bloques (EMB).
Minister of Defense Iván Velásquez denounced the ELN as a "paramilitary group." As the Colombian armed forces are deployed to Catatumbo, rights groups urge the government to "guarantee a culturally appropriate and comprehensive response to this humanitarian crisis."
From JURIST, Jan. 19. Used with permission.
See our last reports on the FARC "dissidents" and the struggle in Cataumbo.
Colombia president declares state of emergency
Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared a state of emergency in Catatumbo region Jan. 24 in response to escalating violence between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and "dissident" factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The declaration grants Petro special powers for 90 days and allows the government to impose curfews and traffic restrictions to restore order. Petro may also extend that period two times, the second time requiring congressional approval. (Jurist, PRI)
Displacement crisis worsens in northern Colombia
An escalation of violence in the northern Catatumbo region, where the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group has been in a bloody turf war with "dissident" groups of the now-disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), has seen 80 people killed and 53,000 displaced from their homes since January. A further 8,600 people are living under effective confinement, with 19,000 more facing restrictions on their freedom of movement. In Cúcuta, the city near the border with Venezuela where many displaced people have been seeking shelter, armed assaults on police stations and toll booths forced the mayor to impose a 48-hour curfew on Feb. 20. The humanitarian organization Project Hope reported that 122,000 people are now in critical need of assistance in Cúcuta and the towns of Tibú and Ocaña. Those displaced also face inadequate water and sanitation facilities. (TNH)