Regarding the events that occurred in the department of Arauca, where several people were killed, the Command of the joint task force Quir贸n, a military unit of the Eighth Division of the National Army, informs:
1. According to preliminary information, it is known that in some parts of the municipalities of Saravena, Arauquita and Fortul a series of homicides occurred. Apparently there is a confrontation between members of the Organized Armed Group (GAO) ELN, Eastern War Front against members of the residual Organized Armed Group (GAO-r), of the FARC dissidents, for the control of illegal activities.
2. Immediately these facts were known, a security council was held with the participation of all civil and military authorities, led by the mayors of the municipalities of Tame and Saravena, Arauca. All the institutions have come together to carry out unified operations to reach these points of the department.
3. The Military Forces and the National Police launch a special security operation that will be conducted in the area to assist the authorities and initiate the corresponding investigations in order to clarify what happened.
4. We firmly reject these violent acts conducted by these criminal groups, responsible for the attacks on human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in this area of the country that hit civilians.
5. The military operations of the National Army will continue to be conducted decisively hand in hand with the other authorities in the department of Arauca, with the main objective of protecting civilians who result directly beaten by the violent operations of these groups outlaw.
