TRES BOCAS, Colombia — The village of Tres Bocas, situated near the Colombian-Venezuelan border, has been abandoned by its residents as they flee violence in the Catatumbo region, which has claimed the lives of at least 80 individuals and forced thousands to abandon their homes.
Recent reports indicate that over 18,000 people have left the northeastern part of Colombia due to escalating confrontations between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and a competing faction known as FARC-EMC. Among those displaced, around 1,000 individuals have crossed into Venezuela seeking refuge.
Jaime Botero, president of a community association in Tibu—located approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of Tres Bocas—highlighted the fears of many residents. “Many of them are worried about the gunfights that have erupted” in the countryside, he noted.
The Catatumbo region, which has a population of about 300,000, is a significant producer of coca, accounting for 15% of Colombia’s coca cultivation. The ongoing struggle between FARC-EMC and the ELN over this territory and its key drug trafficking routes had seen a temporary truce, but the situation has spiraled violently in recent days.
Violence flared last week, with ELN militants launching attacks on civilians, accusing them of being accomplices to FARC-EMC. Reports emerged of rebels forcibly removing individuals from their homes and executing them in close proximity.
In response to these developments, Colombian President Gustavo Petro made the decision to halt peace negotiations with the ELN, criticizing the group for what he termed as war crimes. On Monday evening, he announced plans to issue an emergency decree to allow for the passage of conflict-related legislation without the need for congressional approval.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his outrage over the killings of non-combatants, including former fighters who had signed the 2016 peace accord. A U.N. spokesperson revealed that Guterres is alarmed by the mass displacement of civilians caused by the violence. “The secretary-general urges an immediate stop to violence against civilians and calls for unrestricted humanitarian assistance,” the spokesperson said.
The United Nations has once again urged the ELN and other armed groups in the Catatumbo region to uphold the rights of civilians. Reports emerged indicating that two human rights activists were killed last week, further compounding the crisis in the area.
