Colombia's ELN guerrilla group declares 'armed strike,' confining thousands
72-hour strike disrupts essential services, halts transportation and closes schools
BOGOTA, Colombia
Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group declared a 72-hour "armed strike" in the country’s Choco region effective Tuesday.
The declaration mandates the strict confinement of the civilian population to their homes, said authorities.
All transportation will be suspended, and no one will be permitted to travel on public roads. Classes will also be suspended in numerous rural towns and in urban areas under the influence of the guerrilla group, said Choco Governor Nubia Cordoba.
Essential services including food, medicine and health care will be severely disrupted, said Cordoba.
She urged the government of President Gustavo Petro to intervene to "restore order and protect our citizens."
In a statement, the group said the armed strike aims to expose the alleged collusion between the state, military forces and mercenary groups operating in the region.
“The government bears primary responsibility for the dire humanitarian situation in this region and for the expansion and consolidation of the Gulf Cartel's influence," said the statement, which was dated Feb. 15.
Despite a previously agreed-upon ceasefire, nine armed strikes have occurred. But the current strike encompasses a significantly larger area than previous incidents, affecting 11 regions across the country and confining an estimated 20,000 people. Thousands have been displaced by the ongoing violence.
Authorities have accused these groups of committing various war crimes, including the widespread laying of anti-personnel mines in the region. Governor Cordoba said that 80% of Choco is mined.
Petro’s government suspended peace talks with the ELN after the humanitarian crisis triggered by the group's actions in the Catatumbo region in the northeast of the country.
The crisis has severely impacted hundreds of citizens, resulting in widespread confinement, displacement, the forced recruitment of minors, homicides of civilians and the widespread planting of anti-personnel mines and explosive devices which severely restrict freedom of movement.
