TRES BOCAS – The Colombian border village of Tres Bocas has develop into a ghost city as residents flee to neighboring Venezuela to flee a brand new wave of violence in Colombia’s Catatumbo area that has left at least 80 people dead and displaced thousands.
Based on the United Nations, greater than 18,000 individuals have fled the northeastern area as combating between the Nationwide Liberation Military or ELN, and a rival group referred to as the FARC-EMC intensifies. Of those that had fled, about 1,000 have sought shelter in Venezuela.
“Lots of them are afraid of the firefights which have damaged out” in rural areas, mentioned Jaime Botero, president of a group affiliation within the city of Tibu, which is about 10 km (6 miles) to the west of Tres Bocas.
Situated on Colombia’s border with Venezuela, the Catatumbo area has round 300,000 residents and produces 15% of Colombia’s coca crop.
The FARC-EMC and the ELN have lengthy battled for management of the area and its profitable drug trafficking routes, however had lately held a truce.
However violence escalated final week when members of the ELN attacked civilians, accusing them of collaborating with the FARC-EMC, with ELN rebels reportedly dragging individuals out of their houses and capturing them at shut vary.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro suspended peace talks with the ELN on Friday, accusing the rebels of committing battle crimes. On Monday night time, Petro mentioned he would issue an emergency decree that might allow him to move laws associated to the battle with out congressional approval.
On Tuesday the United Nations urged the ELN and different armed teams within the Catatumbo area to respect the “human rights of civilians.”
The U.N. mentioned that two human rights defenders from the area had been killed within the violence that broke out final week.
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Rueda reported from Bogota, Colombia.
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