The ELN guerrillas announces an armed strike in the Colombian department of Chocó

The Colombian Guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) announced on Saturday night a 72 -hour armed strike in the department of Chocó (west), starting next Tuesday 18 to Friday 21, for the «serious humanitarian situation» and the «paramilitary advance» in the region, as disclosed in a statement.

“To make this network between the State, military and mercenary forces, we decree 72 -hour armed unemployment in the department of Chocó, from 00:00 hours (05:00 GMT) on February 18, until 00: 00 hours on the 21st of the same month, ”said Western War Front Ogli Padilla in the note published in Social Network X.

The guerrillas explains that the measure is due to the «invisibility of the regime of the serious humanitarian situation in the department of Chocó and in front of the lies of the information companies that intend to hide the true reason of the paramilitary advance.»

Eln accuses the government of the Chocó situation

Likewise, the ELN points to the Colombian government as the «first responsible for the serious humanitarian situation of this region of the country, as well as the growth and positioning of the Gulf poster in the department.»

For two weeks, guerrillas of the National Liberation Army face each other in the San Juan Media region with men of the Gulf Clan, the main Colombian criminal gang, which has left about 3,600 displaced and more than 12,000 confined people, according to figures from The Government of Chocó.

The sides dispute the control of the San Juan River, which allows them to dominate the area and illicit economies, mainly drug trafficking, wood traffic and illegal mining.

The Office in Colombia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights warned last Thursday about the serious situation in the department of Chocó where there are complaints of recruitment of minors and the displacement of indigenous and Afro -descendants for clashes between illegal armed groups.

Child recruitment

«We are concerned about the information we receive about children’s recruitment, installation of antipersone mines, displacement, confinement and other human rights violations in San Juan, by non -state armed groups,» said the agency in his X account.

The Colombian Ministry of Defense sent 150 soldiers to the area that add to the 340 that were already in that part of Chocó, with the purpose of providing protection to the population and counteracting the actions of illegal armed groups.

To this is added that the Navy ordered five artillery boats to support the mobility of the troop in its actions against illegal armed groups.

In addition, in recent months the attacks of the Guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) have intensified against the Public Force in the department of Arauca and against the Dissidencies of the FARC in the Catatumbo region, in the department of Chocó and In southern Bolívar.efe