Regarding the situation in the department of Huila with a group of demining soldiers, the command of the Humanitarian Demining Engineer Brigade of the National Army informs :
1. According to preliminary information and facts that are the subject of investigation, two non-commissioned officers and 16 soldiers of the Humanitarian Demining Engineer Battalion No. 5 who were on their way in an official vehicle to carry out humanitarian demining tasks in the Río Blanco village of the municipality of Baraya, Huila, were taken by armed men who, under threats and violently, stopped the vehicle and made the military personnel leave it.
2. It should be noted that due to the humanitarian nature of this special unit, the military personnel do not carry weapons; however, the criminals stole communications equipment, detectors, personal protective equipment and incinerated the vehicle in which they were traveling.
3. This is a clear terrorist operation that violates human rights and international humanitarian law. This attack would have been perpetrated by GAO residual structure Darío Gutiérrez. Their criminal operations not only endanger the life and good physical condition of the inhabitants and the mine clearance specialists, but could disrupt humanitarian demining operations.
4. The National Army categorically rejects this terrorist operation and the respective denunciations will be filed with the authorities.
5. Finally, the military units in this department, conduct operations with the purpose of working to raise the security of the inhabitants.
Source: National Army Engineers Command
