Explosive attack on Military Vehicle in Arauca: ELN flag found on the scene

A new act of violence shook Colombia in the last hours, when a national army vehicle was the target of an attack with an explosive artifact on the road that connects Saravena (Arauca) with Cubará (Boyacá).

By Santiago Cifuentes Quintero / Infobae

As reported RCN Radio, The attack occurred while the uniformed inspected a suspicious object placed next to an allusive flag to the National Liberation Army (ELN).

So far, injured military has not been reported, although an official report is expected that details the consequences of the incident.

According to the initial reports, the attack occurred in a region known for its complex public order situation, where illegal armed groups such as the ELN have a strong presence.

According to an intelligence report, the ELN intensifies extortion and blockages in Arauca, taking advantage of insecurity to exercise territorial control – Flickr credit

The military vehicle was performing verification tasks on the road when he found a suspicious element, which turned out to be an explosive. Next to this, there was a flag that referred to the guerrilla group, which reinforces suspicions about the authorship of the attack.

Extortion and discredit campaigns against the authorities

A reserved document of the military forces reveals a worrying strategy of the ELN in Arauca. The armed group would be implementing new extortion tactics aimed at merchants, ranchers, indigenous communities and oil companies, exacerbating the security crisis in the region, according to information from information from Time.

According to the report, the Domingo Laín Sáenz del Eln has increased thefts in Saravena, Fortul and Tame, affecting supermarkets, neighborhood stores and car spare venues. Although these crimes might seem work of common criminals, the authorities have identified that they are part of a strategy to sow insecurity and then demand extortive payments in exchange for «protection.»

Colombian taldos preparing to go to the field – Credit Federico Ríos/New York Times

The ELN seeks to take advantage of the discontent of the merchants, who face increasingly high extortion quotas that significantly reduce their profit margins. In addition, they would be promoting rumors about the arrival of dissidents of the FARC to justify their presence and strengthen their territorial control.

In parallel, they advance a campaign to weaken confidence in local authorities, highlighting their alleged inability to guarantee security.

The report also warns that the ELN would be using minors for illegal activities and forcing indigenous communities to block strategic paths. These actions seriously affect the transport of essential goods such as livestock and fuel, generating a significant economic impact.

Violence in the tracks and clamor of the transporter guild

The resurgence of violence has also affected transporters. Multiple guilds requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Defense, Pedro Sánchez, alerting on the burning of vehicles and murders of drivers. In a statement, they pointed out the seriousness of the situation:

“We headed to you with the maximum urgency representing the transporters of Colombia, who have been victims of a wave of unprecedented violence in recent years. During this time, dozens of transporters have vilely lost life on our roads and roads as permanent victims of the armed conflict. ”

Transporters demand immediate measures to guarantee their safety, including the activation of the terrorism policy and the priority destination of resources.

Truckers’ Guild Compress for insecurity on roads due to the ELN – Social Networks Credit

«It is time to recover security in our country with immediate and effective measures, such as the activation of the terrorism policy, given repeated and systematic circumstances such as armed strikes, blockages and direct actions of armed groups.»

In addition, they request a greater investment in resources for protection on the roads:

“We request the priority allocation of resources, such as the Road Safety Fund (Fosevi), To protect transporters, who daily risk their lives on the country’s roads. ”

The situation in Arauca reflects a context of persistent violence, with the ELN intensifying its activities and weaving alliances with local criminal gangs. The authorities continue to investigate the attack on the military vehicle, while the inhabitants of the region cry out for concrete actions that return tranquility to their territories.