Call for an End to Hostilities
On Sunday, a coalition of human rights organizations, including the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), urgently called for an end to hostilities among illegal armed groups in Colombia’s Catatumbo region.
Together with the Colombian movement “Defendamos la Paz,” they urged these factions to cease their violent clashes.
WOLA specifically highlighted the necessity for the National Liberation Army (ELN) to stop its human rights violations and engage in a ceasefire to avert further violence with dissidents from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Urgent Humanitarian Support Needed
In addition to appealing to the armed groups, these organizations pressed the Colombian government for immediate humanitarian support for the rising number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) suffering from the turmoil in Catatumbo.
They underscored the critical importance of upholding international humanitarian law and facilitating relief efforts for those in desperate situations.
Escalating Violence and Government Response
Recent reports paint a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis in Catatumbo.
According to the Colombian Ombudsman, in just four days, more than 11,000 people have been displaced.
The violence has claimed at least 60 lives, one of whom was Carmelo Guerrero, a noted leader in the Association for the Peasant Unity of Catatumbo (ASUNCAT).
Alarmingly, 20 individuals were abducted by armed groups on January 16, with 17 still missing.
Ombudsman Iris Marín Ortiz characterized the current circumstances as one of the most severe humanitarian emergencies affecting the region, having alerted the government about the crisis as far back as November.
The turmoil in Catatumbo is rooted in the ongoing clash between the ELN and FARC dissidents.
Although the Colombian government successfully negotiated a peace agreement with FARC in 2016, talks with the ELN have faced significant obstacles.
President Gustavo Petro condemned the ELN’s conduct in Catatumbo, condemning it as tantamount to war crimes and announcing the suspension of all negotiations with the group.
Earlier in 2024, he had already halted ceasefire discussions with another armed rebel organization due to violent acts.
Minister of Defence Iván Velásquez criticized the ELN, characterizing it as a paramilitary force.
As Colombian armed forces mobilize to confront the escalating situation, human rights organizations like WOLA are calling for the government to respond thoroughly and sensitively to the cultural needs of those affected by this growing humanitarian crisis.
Source: Jurist