Recently, there have been alarming reports of attacks by the National Liberation Army (ELN) in Arauca, a department in Colombia. According to representatives from the municipalities of Puerto Rondón and Tame, nearly 130 individuals were forced to flee their homes due to the violence.
Witnesses who managed to escape the conflict zone revealed that during the clashes, 15 people were allegedly kidnapped by armed groups vying for control of the area. Among those taken captive are predominantly children and local farmers.
The list of abducted individuals includes Yamile Bustos Arciniegas, a 33-year-old woman, a Venezuelan named Luis Mena, and children Chaira Valentina Vela Bustos, 10, and Johan Stiven Bermúdez Bustos, 7, among others. Other victims include Ángel Parada Parada, Brayan Fabián Herrera Durán, Omar Hernández Lozada, and William Harbey Piña Artahona. The situation is dire, especially as the group emphasized that several of those kidnapped are minors.
In a joint statement, local authorities expressed their deep concern, urging respect for the lives of those involved and calling on international organizations and the national government to establish communication with the armed group holding the captives.
The violence has forced civilians from the villages of Normandía, El Progreso, and La Esmeralda to move to urban areas, such as Puerto Rondón or find refuge in Tame. Despite ongoing attacks, the residents hope that authorities will intervene to restore order in the rural area, activate emergency protocols, and work towards the safe return of the kidnapped individuals.
The ELN’s recent onslaught followed the kidnapping of a social leader from Puerto Rondón named Rubén Vega Vezga. Eyewitness accounts indicate that he was approached by several armed members of the group, who threatened him at gunpoint before taking him away.
According to the Amazonia Verde Environmental Corporation, the takeover happened on July 20, 2024, at La Esmeralda. Vega was recognized in his community as an important member of the Association of Victims of Arauca Colombia (ASOVICARC) and the Amazonia Verde Environmental Corporation. Since his abduction, his whereabouts remain unknown.
This organization is adamant about the need for action to secure Vega’s release, highlighting his role as a father and a community leader. They also reported that another farmer, William Arbey Piña Artaona, was kidnapped during this violent incident, and his fate is equally uncertain. Local reports indicate that at least five other farmers are currently missing, underscoring the grim reality of kidnapping and forced displacement in the region.
For more information on social issues affecting Colombia, you can visit organizations such as Human Rights Watch or the United Nations Human Rights Office.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2024/07/22/ataques-del-eln-en-puerto-rondon-arauca-habrian-dejado-130-desplazados-y-15-personas-secuestradas/
