According to a member of the Army, the Gulf Clan would be composed of retired militaries

In February, the General Community Council of San Juan (Acadesan) denounced the forced displacement of the communities of San Agustín and Buenas Brisas in Sipí and Negría in Istmina. According to Acadesan, members of the communities were placed in shelters in one of the department's community councils, in search of their safety and restoration of rights.

“We denounce that the human rights violation situation of the black communities of Acadesan in the municipalities of Istmina, Sipí, Novita, Medio San Juan, and Litoral del San Juan (Chocó) continues to deteriorate, due to the actions of armed actors (both illegal and legal)” can be read in a statement published Acadesan, the Council also added that the situation is delicate because in a month approximately 150 families were displaced; in Negría, 53 families; in Paimadó, 4 families, in Barranconcito, 17 families; in San Agustín, 51 families; in Las Brisas del Litoral, 5 families and in Tordó approximately 17 families.

In addition, it is recorded that since February 14, according to the complaint, at least 39 communities are at risk of confinement due to clashes between the Gulf Clan and the Eln on the San Juan Coast: Cabecera, Cuellar, Malaguita, Palestine, El Coco, El Quícharo, Taparal, Los Perea, Las Delicias, Munguidó, Pangalita, Barrios United, Bella Victoria, Las Peñitas, Las Brisas, Tordó, Copoma, Puerto Murillo, Guachal, Palo Stream, Cucurrupi. In San Juan the communities of Dipurdu, La Unión, Bebedó, Calle Fuerte, Paimadó, Fugiado; in Istmina the communities of Panamacito, Monte Bravo, Cocové, Nuevo Amanecer, Potedó, Trapiche, Perrú, Chaquí, Primavera; and in Sipí Charco Largo, Barrancón, Charco Hondo are also confined by the clashes.

Despite the denunciations of both the council and the Catholic Church, the response of the authorities was slow and questioned, so a transitional justice committee was called, in space some statements came out that are beginning to create doubts and concern.

The intervention that attracted the most attention was that of Major Jorge Arévalo Cardoso, where, according to El Espectador, he stated, referring to the Jairo de Jesús Durango front of the Agc or Clan del Golfo, that the members of this illegal group had “training, considering that they are mostly reservists or retired professional soldiers, and the strategy used by this group has been to send their future combatants for service and once they finish their military service they enter the armed structure, as well as professional soldiers who withdraw from force”.

In addition to the statement by the member of the army, there are different actors who have expressed their concern, considering that in the department of Chocó the army is only showing results against the Eln while structures such as the Clan are ignored and their growth continues without any state impediment.

“In the villages they know who each other are, and they see them together, in Port Meluk they are together with each other, in the rivers there are the checkpoints, which they call 'points', so the Army knowing where they are, why doesn't it do anything? ”, priest Albeiro Parra told the Colombian newspaper and added: “That is the fear they have, that Otoniel will speak and tell who are the high commanders who are in alliance with them. They are truths that no one wants to tell them, nor to give testimony.”

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