The Colombian Ombudsman’s Office warned this Friday of what it called the “great tension” existing in the department of Arauca, in the east of the country, due to clashes between members of irregular armed groups, which have already left 33 dead.
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According to the ombudsman, Carlos Camargo, during a visit to the area, “the fear of the communities persists. For this reason, we are in the department of Arauca talking directly with the communities that have been affected by the actions of the groups illegal armed groups who dispute illicit activities in the border area”.
The Ombudsman’s Office also warned that in addition to the 170 families that are currently displaced in Arauca, “the phenomenon is beginning to be felt in Norte de Santander”, a department where 24 families have arrived, according to a statement from the institution.
1/6 We are with the Defender Carlos Camargo in #arauca, where the fear of the communities persists due to the actions of illegal armed groups. Added to the 33 homicides reported by the authorities is the displacement of 170 families in several municipalities so far this year. pic.twitter.com/fS7KaxA1iJ
— Ombudsman (@DefensoriaCol)
January 13, 2022
During a visit by Camargo to the affected towns, they have called on the armed groups to “respect the civilian population, keep it out of their activities, stop homicides in their territory and not recruit minors “.
The Colombian authorities reported at the beginning of the year that they had found at least 27 bodies in the rural areas of the municipalities of Fortul, Saravena and Arauquita, in Arauca; and in the town of Cubará, in the department of Boyacá.
5/6 In addition to the nearly 170 displaced families in #arauca, the phenomenon is already beginning to be felt in the department of Norte de Santander, specifically in the municipality of Toledo, where 24 families have arrived. pic.twitter.com/a7bsfKZWz7
— Ombudsman (@DefensoriaCol)
January 13, 2022
As detailed in a press conference by the Attorney General of the Nation, Francisco Barbosa, the victims would have been forced to leave their homes by armed men.
In the Colombian capital, peace, human rights and social organizations carry out a sit-in in solidarity with the department of Arauca, demanding that the violence cease, rejecting the war policy that is being established in this territory.@teleSURtv pic.twitter.com/Cqt4cVxIpx
– Hernán Tobar (@TobarteleSUR)
January 12, 2022
President Iván Duque has tried to stifle the situation in the area by militarizing it.