After the Security Council, Minister Velásquez explained that the Military Forces must carry out operations against groups that are not in a ceasefire.
The increased presence of the military forces in the department of Chocó will ensure that the communities hit by forced displacement return to their lands.
Authorities are analyzing particular cases of personal security of mayors of Chocó department to give prompt solution.
In his meeting with the communities in Istmina and Quibdó in the department of Chocó, the Minister of Defense got to know first-hand the situation of some inhabitants displaced by violence. In the same way, he met with mayors of the department and held a security council to take new measures against illegal armed groups. According to the Minister of Defense, the decision is to hit criminal finances because in this way the structures or organizations that are generating insecurity in the department are in the same way weakened. “By damaging these finances, the organizations themselves that are not in processes of surrender or negotiation are in the same way weakened. Because they are being damaged economically, the weakness of these organizations, in the same way leads the Military Forces to achieve their dismantling by military means.”
After the Security Council, he explained that the commitment of the Military Forces is to carry out operations against organizations that are not covered by the ceasefire.
“The General commander of the Military Forces with the commanders of the forces at the national level, but in the same way with the territorial commands, with the National Police, agreed to carry out a shock plan against drug trafficking and against illegal mining,” the Minister said.
Regarding the problem of forced displacement experienced by certain people in the Middle and Lower San Juan, due to the clashes conducted by illegal armed groups, the Minister said that the existence of the Military Forces is ensured so that these communities can return soon.
“We were informed about this situation by the commander of the 7. division, for example, that in Charco Largo there are 59 people who are currently still there, that there is no confrontation, that there is the operation of Military Forces, so that these communities could return,” the senior official highlighted.
Minister Velásquez in the same way highlighted that he hopes that there will be a commitment on the part of the National Liberation Army, the ELN, not to continue damaging these villages, so he said that the ceasefire that has been discussed in Havana with this group is on the right track.
“I understand, in the discussions that have been taking place in Havana, that a progressive cessation is agreed, so that without knowing exactly what the first regulations regarding prohibited behaviors would be, what is intended is that, with cessation, as it is being implemented, operations against communities are totally prohibited and there is a commitment of the National Liberation Army not to continue harming these villages,” Minister Velásquez said.
During the activity carried out in the department of Chocó, the Minister in the same way met with local mayors of the department to listen to them and learn about some personal security situations, leaving the commitment that the mayors will send him specific problems in writing and the Ministry will manage solutions through the Military Forces, the UNP or the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace.
Source: Defense Sector Communications Office - Ministry of National Defense
