Colombia: UN chief calls for end to violence against civilians

The UN Secretary General, “very concerned” about violence between guerrillas in Colombia, called on Tuesday for an “immediate end to acts of violence against the civilian population”, according to a press release from his spokesperson.

Antonio Guterres “is very worried about the recent violence in the Catatumbo region in Colombia linked to clashes between armed groups,” said Stéphane Dujarric.

“It condemns the killings of civilians, including former fighters who signed the 2016 peace agreement, human rights defenders and social leaders,” he added. And he “calls for an immediate end to acts of violence against the civilian population and for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid.”

20,000 people displaced

Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared a state of emergency on Monday in response to clashes between guerrillas which left more than 100 dead and 20,000 displaced in less than a week.

This violence particularly concerns the Catatumbo region, in the North-East, on the border with Venezuela. With more than 50,000 hectares of coca crops, fuel for the long armed conflict, this region is a symbol of the internal war which has caused more than 9.5 million victims, including displaced people, in six decades.

The ELN (Guevarist National Liberation Army) guerrillas launched a bloody attack there last Thursday against rival dissidents of the defunct guerrilla of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the civilian population.

Peace negotiations suspended

In this context, Gustavo Petro decided to suspend the peace negotiations initiated with the ELN. The 2016 peace agreement with the Marxist FARC guerrillas, then the most powerful guerrillas in Latin America, helped to temporarily reduce violence in Colombia, the leading producer of cocaine.

But the internal conflict has intensified again in recent years due to the operations of the FARC dissident groups, the Guevarist ELN guerrillas and the Clan del Golfo cartel, among other armed groups.

The UN Secretary General, taking note of the suspension of discussions with the ELN, insisted Tuesday on the importance of “the full implementation” of the peace agreement, “a cornerstone of the consolidation of peace in Colombia”.

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AFP

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