Minister of Defense Warns of ‘Surprising Attacks’ by Armed Groups: Stay Alert

2024-04-09 19:24:02

The Minister explained that due to the current situation that the country is going through, there may be “surprising attacks” by armed groups outside the law.

Photo: EFE – Mauricio Duenas Castaneda

Within the framework of the commemoration ceremony for the National Day of Remembrance and Solidarity with the Victims of the Armed Conflict, the Minister of Defense, Iván Velásquez, expressed that the country is in a “difficult” situation of public order, in the which the Military Forces have to remain alert. The portfolio manager stated that although the uniformed officers are trained for these situations. “What happens is that sometimes they relax,” he concluded.

The Minister explained that due to the current situation that the country is going through, there may be “surprising attacks” by armed groups outside the law. At this point he mentioned that they may be carried out with drones. Due to this type of attacks and other terrorist actions once morest members of the Army, maximum alert guidelines have been issued to the authorities to increase precautions.

“They must continue to comply with their obligations, but take all precautions with their movements. “They are very well trained for this, what happens is that sometimes they relax,” said the minister while stating that this is not a time to let our guard down. He stressed that they must pay great attention to their environments and the protection of communities.

On April 3, authorities reported clashes in the department of Nariño between the Military Forces and the FARC dissident known as Segunda Marquetalia, led by alias Iván Márquez. Later, the Army confirmed that nine members of that armed group died in the middle of the fighting.

For several weeks, the National Intelligence Directorate has been tracking the members of this dissidence, mainly the groups that manage the departure of cocaine shipments through the Pacific Ocean, which allowed the location of the Alfonso Cano block. During the clashes in Nariño, no military deaths were reported. The results of that operation add another hard blow once morest the dissidents of the Second Marquetalia, the capture of alias Villa, designated by the Army as one of the top leaders of the Diomar Cortés Front of that dissident structure.

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