They call for speed in the uprising of bodies after the massacre in Tame, Arauca

In the department of Arauca, the increase in violence has shocked the population. On April 17, a new massacre occurred in the rural municipality of Tame and, according to the authorities, the incident left four people dead, of whom two were minors. After the attack, the Department's Association of Personeros requested the removal of the bodies.

The entity called on the Attorney General's Office and the public forces to carry out the lifting of the bodies of the victims. Faced with this, the Military Forces assured that “unfortunately, weather conditions did not allow the aircraft to enter with the officials of the Prosecutor's Office.”

However, the same National Army reported that, as soon as the situation became known, all procedures to verify the information were advanced and the necessary evidence was collected to be able to find those guilty of the crime in Arauca.

Details about the massacre

The Army reported in a press release that the attack is attributed to FARC dissidents. According to preliminary information, the massacre occurred when the victims were traveling in a van last Sunday night and the vehicle was attacked by armed men wearing clothing for the exclusive use of the military forces.

It is important to note that the same community reported on what happened, as they found the bodies and vehicles incinerated on the road. They detailed that they were all killed with shots of grace and showed signs of violence.

The Military Forces also rejected the acts against the civilian population. “The (five) injured in this cowardly attack were taken to the San Antonio de Tame hospital (Arauca), where they are currently being treated by medical personnel”, the entity's statement reads.

Wilder Ortiz, director of ESE Moreno y Clavijo, explained to Noticias Caracol that they received the five patients at the San Antonio de Tame hospital; however, “one male patient was referred to Sarare hospital (Sarabena), 32 years old due to serious injuries with a firearm.”

The authorities of the municipality held a security council after the massacre. “To all institutions, to all organizations that can help so that this situation can be overcome,” the mayor of Tame, Aníbal Mendoza, told the same media outlet.

The increase in violence in Arauca

One of the people who died in the massacre was Ángel Julián Estrada; he was 48 years old, engaged in livestock farming and had two daughters aged 17 and 21. Blu Radio was able to contact the victim's brother, Victor Estrada, who explained the current situation in the department due to the presence of illegal armed groups such as FARC and ELN dissidents.

“As the conflict is going on, you can't walk around at night at any time,” said Victor Estrada, who lives in the Puerto Rondón municipality. He also pointed out that his brother worked hand in hand with his father and for that reason, he will go to Tame to visit him.

The situation described by Estrada goes hand in hand with what was alerted by the Joel Sierra Human Rights Foundation on April 14. The entity recalled that this month alone there have been seven murders — not counting those of this massacre — and so far in 2022 the clashes between the FARC, the ELN and the Armed Forces have increased.

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