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Colombia’s President to Declare State of Emergency due to Deadly ELN Attacks in the Northeast.


BOGOTA, Colombia—Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Monday that he would be declaring a state of emergency in response to the guerrilla attacks in the northeast region that have resulted in numerous deaths and the displacement of thousands of people.

Speaking on X, Petro stated that he would be enacting a “state of internal commotion,” allowing the executive branch to enact specific legislation without the need for congressional approval for a period of three months. This measure will come into effect once the president and his Cabinet sign a decree, although it could be challenged in Colombia’s constitutional court.

Similar emergency decrees were utilized in the early 2000s during the administration of then-President Álvaro Uribe to increase military funding through a special war tax. It’s important to note that, according to Colombia’s constitution, this emergency measure cannot be used to suspend congress or infringe on civil rights. “I hope the judicial system will stand by us,” Petro expressed on X.

Earlier on Monday, Petro had issued a warning that the Colombian military would be taking offensive actions against the National Liberation Army following a series of attacks in the Catatumbo region that led to the death of at least 80 individuals.

“The ELN has opted for war, and they will face the consequences,” Petro conveyed on X, accusing the rebels of transitioning into a drug trafficking organization and likening their tactics to those of Pablo Escobar, a notorious cartel leader notorious for bombing government structures and employing numerous hitmen to eliminate his adversaries.

Petro, once a member of a guerrilla group in his youth, initiated peace negotiations with the ELN in 2022, pledging during his presidential campaign that he could persuade the rebels to demobilize within three months of assuming office.

Conversations have hit a roadblock due to disagreements regarding the disarmament of the rebels and the economic reforms that the government must implement in exchange for their demobilization. The ELN has also criticized the government for engaging in separate talks with a splinter group in the southwest region and continuing to engage in abductions and extortion.

Last Friday, Petro halted negotiations with the rebels following increased violence in Catatumbo, an area known for its coca production and situated on the Venezuela border.

With an estimated 6,000 fighters, the ELN has reportedly targeted civilians allegedly affiliated with a rival group, the FARC-EMC, resulting in abductions and shootings. In rural areas, clashes between members of both factions have erupted.

In a statement released on Monday, ELN leader Antonio García clarified that their focus is not on civilians but on former rebel fighters who have aligned themselves with the FARC-EMC.

Over the weekend, thousands of people fled the Catatumbo region, including community leaders threatened by the ELN. Among the displaced individuals were former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia members, who have now become targets for the ELN.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Colombia reported that the recent violence in Catatumbo has displaced 18,300 individuals, now seeking refuge in shelters and hotels in cities like Tibu, Ocaña, and Cúcuta. Authorities have warned of an impending humanitarian crisis.

Sandra Tijaro, a farmer from northeastern Colombia, shared in an interview her harrowing experience fleeing her village after armed men instructed everyone to evacuate. She now resides with her children in a Tibu shelter.

“We urge armed groups to consider the well-being of rural residents,” she emphasized. “We are honest, hard-working individuals who suffer the consequences of this conflict.”

The 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia led to the demobilization of 11,000 fighters. However, it left a power vacuum in certain rural areas, prompting smaller rebel groups to emerge and the government to struggle with reducing violence against civilians.

By Manuel Rueda and Astrid Suárez



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