About 9,800 people have been forced into confinement in northwestern Colombia due to “indefinite armed strike” imposed there by the ELN guerrilla in the midst of the peace negotiations that it is carrying out with the government, the Ombudsman’s Office reported this Friday.
“Following the announcement of an armed strike” by the rebels in the department of Chocó, “at least 9,800 people from the municipalities of Istmina, Medio San Juan, Sipí and Nóvita” are “in indefinite confinement”, with restrictions on mobility, daily activities, “transportation of groceries and food as well as access to health services,” the entity said in a statement.
In a document released Wednesday, the National Liberation Army (ELN) prohibited movement and activity in that region alleging the murder on Monday of “young Santiago Cáceres” at the hands of “paramilitaries” in “coexistence” with the Public Force.
“It should be remembered that last Monday, December 12, an incursion of members of the Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) in the Afro community of Negría in Istmina, where a person was murdered and they received intimidation, damage to civilian property, and theft,” said the entity in charge of ensuring human rights.
According to the Ombudsman, as a consequence of these confrontations some 141 people had to move to other neighboring towns.
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“The Afro and indigenous communities located in this sub-region of middle San Juan have faced successive events of confinement and massive displacement due to the installation of explosives, combats involving the civilian population, threats, restrictions and population and territorial controls by illegal groups”, added the Ombudsman.
The “armed strike” raised criticism both from the opposition and from the leftist government, which earlier this week had “successfully” concluded the first cycle of peace talks with the guerrillas in Caracas.
At the end of the round of dialogues, the Government and the ELN announced “humanitarian actions” to mitigate the violence precisely in the area where the rebels are now paralyzing the activity under threat.
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The parties resumed in November the peace process that had been suspended under the government of Iván Duque (2018-2022) and that in principle will have a second chapter next year in Mexico.
The negotiation advances without mediating a ceasefire.
In arms since 1964, the ELN has a foot of force of about 2,500 combatants and a wide network of collaborators, according to independent estimates.