About 800 men of the humanitarian demining battalion No 60 are in charge of clear municipalities suspected of having mines and improvised explosive devices in Antioquia
Jorge Betancur is a coffee grower who, during his 34 years of life, has been in Ituango, where he was born and, he says, he has lived good things and bad things. He recognizes that his present is hopeful, despite suffering years of forced displacement. Today he has returned to his land and together with his wife and daughter they work in the countryside, an activity that was suspended for several years in different sectors of the hamlet El Turco due to antipersonnel mines that frightened all its inhabitants.
"We had to abandon everything because of the fear, because of the anxiety that mines produced, so we tried not to walk around and practically abandoned the land, but now we are back to work and see the land produce. I am very happy, very happy and not only me, but the community that transits those roads, we are more confident and we are working again, walking; we are planting coffee" said Jorge while picking up production at his coffee plantation.
Since its creation in 2009, The Demining Battalion No. 60 has managed to clear many sectors of suspicion of mines and improvised explosive devices, in Antioquia. "10 municipalities have been cleared so far and there are four to be ready declared free of suspicion and will be given soon to the community, they are Caicedo, Abriaquí, Caramanta and Tamesís" explained Colonel Villamil, Commander of this Battalion who leads this work that transcends and contributes to the progress of the countryside.
"We are looking for the peasant to return to his territory, so, that person who had to leave, can now return and cultivate, walk and let his children run calmly, because the National Army, its demining battalion, was there and now it is free of suspicion of mines, to cultivate again and generate progress and development for the country." Conclude Colonel Villamil.
So far this year, more than 302 thousand square meters of land have been cleared in Antioquia and 34 antipersonnel mines have been destroyed. The National Army, through its Fourth Brigade, will continue to be present in this territory to guarantee the security, not only of the communities, but in the same way of these men who lead the demining in the Northern area of the department and thus continue to present fields clear of these invisible and silent enemies.
Source: National Army
