Colombia Threatens Military Response to Illegal Armed Groups that Refuse to Dialogue

Following a tumultuous weekend marked by the suspension of the bilateral ceasefire with the Central General Staff (EMC) guerrillas in Cauca, due to their attacks on the indigenous population, Colombia is now signaling a military response to any illegal armed groups that reject dialogue. President Gustavo Petro has laid down conditions specifically for the paramilitary group, Gulf Clan, underscoring the government’s stance on handling violence and promoting peace.

In the municipality of Apartado, in the department of Antioquia, the governor has warned this armed group, the heir of the old and powerful paramilitarism, that if it does not sit down to negotiate, the state’s response will be forceful.

“The one who has the ball in their court is the clan; do you dare or don’t you dare? If you do not dare, we will fight, because the decision is to destroy the clan,” said Petro concerning the group called Gulf Clan. Gustavo Petro, in turn, reiterated that if this illegal group is willing, the government will set up the table to reach a consensus. It should be recalled that former paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso is awaiting authorization from the justice system to act as a peace mediator, at the request of the Colombian president.

Petition to abandon illicit businesses

The Colombian president, set his conditions for this dialogue, framed in the Total Peace project, to take place with the paramilitary group, which for years has been financed by the drug trafficking business.

“It must dare to get out of the illegal economy and illegality and get into this difficult challenge, for which we are here today, which is to transform this territory into a prosperous region, where the human being who is from here, can develop humanly, culturally, and economically,” said the head of state during his speech in Antioquia, an area where this illegal armed group has an important presence.

Petro referred to the situation of the EMC, which, despite the bilateral ceasefire agreed with the state, has continued to commit crimes with impunity. In this sense, the president has warned the Gulf Clan that “if they are willing to leave the illicit business, the migrant business, extortion, rattling, we talk. But not to make fools of us, to talk seriously about it, because I am more interested in the truth,” said the head of state, who is going through the most difficult moments regarding his project to extend the peace achieved with the FARC in 2016 to other illegal groups.

Recognizes errors in dialogues

Although this is not the first time Colombia’s president has acknowledged mistakes in some of the dialogues the country has initiated with different armed groups, it is the first time he has done so in a forceful manner. Petro recognizes that while the government has respected the agreed ceasefire, the EMC has taken advantage of it to continue committing crimes and filling “the warehouses with cocaine.”.

As a result, the agreement signed in January, which lasted until July, will be terminated today. The military forces are preparing for a possible major offensive by guerrilla war fronts in the south of the country starting tomorrow when the parties have planned to officially settle the silence of the rifles.

Just yesterday, Monday, the death of the social leader Carmelina Yule, 52 years old, who suffered serious wounds in her face from rifle shots in last Saturday’s attack of the EMC against indigenous people of the Nasa community in Toribio, Cauca, was confirmed.

Military forces are alert

The commander of the military forces, General Helder Giraldo, has sent an “extraordinary message” to the generals and admirals of the different units, in which he emphasizes that the actions of the EMC guerrilla have to be met with determination by the Colombians.

The commander asked for the total redeployment of troops and to reinforce the security of all the units deployed in the country, which he affirmed is crucial in the objective of taking care of strategic points where armed groups operate.

“I require willingness and commitment to alert all troops at all levels and reinforce the security of our units deployed throughout the national territory. In addition, we must guarantee security at critical points and strategic assets of the nation,” said Commander Giraldo.