The Ministry of Defense confirmed on Monday, March 28, that the National Army discharged 11 members of the FARC dissidents. The events occurred during a military operation in a rural area of Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo, where troops clashed with structure 48, also known as 'Border Commandos'.
“Thanks to offensive operations by the Public Forces, which continue to be developed, against FARC dissidents, we neutralized 9 criminals — a figure that later rose to 11 — and captured 4 more in Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo. With all our might we protect Colombia from these symbols of evil,” said Defense Minister Diego Molano.
The National Army assured that four members of the organization belonging to the 'Segunda Marquetalia' dissidents were injured and duly captured; among them is a pregnant woman who was transferred to a health care center.
In the confrontation, a professional soldier also suffered injuries, at least five rifles and ammunition have been seized. While the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation is carrying out the judicial proceedings of the four prisoners.
President Iván Duque, for his part, referred to this on his Twitter account. “The relentless offensive against narco-terrorist structures continues in all regions of the country. In the operations of our public forces, the neutralization of 11 members of FARC dissidents was achieved and the capture of 4 more criminals in Puerto Leguizamo (Putumayo),” wrote the president of the Republic.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Defense also announced that this Monday alias' Alex ', the second leader of the FARC dissidents, was neutralized. This event occurred in the southwestern part of the country. “Today Valle del Cauca is getting rid of a narco-terrorist,” Molano commented on his Twitter.
FARC dissidents in Bogotá
The dissidents of the 33rd front of the FARC were attributed this Monday to the attack on the CAI of Arborizadora Alta, located in the town of Ciudad Bolivar, in the south of the city of Bogotá. The detonation occurred last Saturday, March 26, and resulted in the murder of two children: Ivanna Salome Ranger Molina, aged five, and Daniel Estiven Duque Buitrago, aged 12. In addition, 39 people were injured, of which nine are minors.
The 33rd front shared a statement on social networks stating that the attack was carried out to celebrate the anniversary of the death of Manuel Marulanda Vélez, alias' Tirofijo ', which occurred on March 26, 2008. The message was given by the commander of the armed group, alias' Andrey ', who operates in Norte de Santander.
Mayor Claudia López rejected the acts and described them as “cowardly and miserable murderers.” The president stated that, “they planted and detonated 20 to 25 kilos of explosives behind the CAI of Arborizadora Alta, with full knowledge and intention of harming civilians in the middle of a popular neighborhood, in an area surrounded by a park, three schools and commerce.”
Given this, the president and President Iván Duque will meet on March 29 in a Security Council at 9:30 in the morning to determine what will be the route to follow in the capital in the face of these violent events. Lopez also asked the head of state to activate all national security protection mechanisms in Bogotá.
It should be recalled that the national Government offered a reward of 300 million to those who provide information necessary to clarify what happened and thus establish the intellectual and material perpetrators of the attack.
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