Colombia: Rebel violence kills 60 in Catatumbo

The Office of the Ombudsman, a state agency that oversees the protection of citizens’ human and civil rights, previously reported that 40 people had died as a result of the violence.

It said many people, including community leaders and their families, faced a “particular risk” of being abducted or killed by the ELN. Recently, it was noted that 20 people, half of whom were women, were kidnapped.

Carmelo Guerrero, the leader of the Catatumbo (Asuncat) Peasant Union Association, a local advocacy group, was among those killed, according to the office.

Asunjat wrote on social media on Friday that board members Roger Quintero and Freiman Velasquez had not been seen since the previous day and suspected armed groups had captured them.

Thousands of people are believed to have been displaced as a result of the violence, the Office of the Ombudsman added in a statement on Saturday: “Food shortages in some communities in the region have begun to affect local communities.”

The consequences of these events are experienced by the elderly, children, teenagers, pregnant women, and people with limited health capabilities.

“Catatumbo is covered in blood again,” the Catatumbo Peace Mothers Association wrote on Friday.

“Bullets that replace each other don’t just hurt gun owners, they tear apart the dreams of our communities, tear apart families and sow terror in the ears of our children.”

The Office of the Ombudsman blamed the recent violence on the ELN, which had been in peace talks with the Colombian government until Friday’s suspension over violence in Catatumbo.

President Gustavo Petro, who has sought to end violence between armed groups in the country since his election in 2022, accused the ELN of “war crimes” and said the group was “not ready for peace.”

In a statement on Saturday, the ELN accused the FARC of starting the conflict by killing civilians, Reuters news agency reported. Farj has not publicly responded to this claim.

On Saturday, the Colombian army announced that it was sending additional troops to the region to restore peace.