Clashes in El Tambo, Cauca, left two dead and one injured

Fuertes Combates recorded the National Army in the rural area of the municipality of El Tambo, in Cauca, where Brigadier General Jairo Rojas reported that in the Playa Rica village, two people were killed, one of whom would be the FARC dissident known as alias 'Jhon'.

“In military operations against the residual organized armed group, Carlos Patiño, two members of the criminal structure were killed in combat... apparently, he is one of those responsible for carrying out the murders, forced recruitment, illegal checkpoints and intimidation of the civilian population in this municipality,” said the Brigadier Rojas emphasizing alias 'Jhon'.

The authorities also indicated that during the military operations they succeeded in the seizure of large war material used by criminals to carry out intelligence against the security forces.

On the other hand, members of the community of El Tambo have stated that the other deceased is not a member of a criminal structure, but is a minor identified as Carlos Yobani Erazo, a native of Timbío Cauca. The other injured person who is also presumed to be a civilian and who was injured in the abdomen by fire wounds was taken to a health center in the city of Popayán.

JAC Community Action Board of the area noted: “There were bullets in the houses, in the cars, because it was a fire opened indiscriminately without looking at the consequences for the civilian population left in the middle of the confrontation.”

The representative of El Tambo, Luis Vergara, also spoke about the need to take care of the integrity of civilians and keep them away from the conflict: “What is wanted is for the civilian population to be left out of all kinds of confrontations, the population rejects violent acts and they have requested the expulsion of the Army of the Territory”.

So far, authorities have not provided any further information on the alleged civilians involved in the operation deployed in the Playa Rica village. Regarding more information on the security situation in Valle del Cauca, this Monday, March 21, a pamphlet signed by the Black Eagles paramilitary group was released in which they threaten death to a group of social leaders of the department, including the epidemiologist, Rayan El Barkachi, who acts as the chief of debate on the Historical Pact in this region.

In the document signed by the Western Bloc of the paramilitary group, linked to drug trafficking, they indicate that they have conducted a “field investigation” in the territory into the behavior of those they described as alleged political leaders whom they said they were doing “counterintelligence in cities and towns” looking for ways to destabilize and achieve power”.

“We continue to live up to our word to cleanse all those so-called indigenous and social leaders who are a plague of Colombia, we have already started in Cauca and will continue in the Valley. The time has come to put an end to you left-wing politicians, guerrillas, who support the so-called Historical Pact,” says the letter of the criminal group.

They also indicated that they were beginning the “hunt” and would not rest “until they were all underground”, noting that they knew that they “camouflaged” themselves among indigenous councils, associations and foundations, while mentioning that as an ultra-right armed group they would defend.

The death threats are directed at Rayan El Barkachi, Emilio Valencia, Edgar Patiño, Álex Quitumbo, Yeison Ramos, Cristhian Rivera, Julieth Cuchillo, Alberto Guasiruma and Liderman Adrada, who are mentioned in the pamphlet indicating the municipalities where some of the social leaders come from.

“They thought we were playing and now they will know how we play, we have concrete information about where they live and the hunt has begun. Our goal is to cleanse Colombia of all that leftist plague that a slavery regime wants. We don't let ourselves be broken. For a plan of ordering and cleaning right”, concluded the pamphlet.

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