Colombian police seize weapons in ‘important blow’ to armed group

Arsenal of weapons, together with M60 machine gun and grenades, belonged to FARC insurgent dissidents, Colombian police say.

Rifles are seen during a news conference showing a seizure of weapons Colombian police say belonged to FARC rebel dissidents
A information convention in Bogota, Colombia, shows an array of rifles that authorities say belonged to dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), on January 16, 2023 [Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters]

Colombia’s nationwide police power has stated it confiscated an arsenal of weapons, together with grenades and a machine gun, belonging to dissidents from the now-disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) insurgent group.

Although the Estado Mayor Central dissidents rejected a 2016 peace deal between Bogota and the FARC, they'd agreed to a current ceasefire with the federal government of left-wing President Gustavo Petro.

The arsenal of 33 weapons, an M60 machine gun, grenades, greater than 30,000 bullets and uniforms was being transported in two automobiles discovered deserted within the Narino province in southwestern Colombia.

“The confiscated arsenal constitutes some of the essential blows in recent times,” nationwide police Director Common Henry Armando Sanabria advised reporters on Monday. “With this we keep away from the strengthening of an armed group.”

The weapons — made in the US, Israel and Russia — had beforehand been used, and it remained to be established if they'd been bought on the black market or stolen from the army throughout assaults, Sanabria stated.

He added that it was as much as the federal government to determine if the motion of the arsenal constitutes a violation of the dissidents’ ceasefire with the federal government.

Weapons, bullets and uniforms seized by Colombian police
Colombian police unveiled the seizure of weapons, explosives and ammunition in Bogota on January 16, 2023 [Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters]

Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president, has promised to pursue a “whole peace” plan and negotiate with armed teams to attempt to convey an finish to the armed battle that has killed greater than 450,000 folks throughout the nation.

Violence has surged in Colombia in recent times, particularly in elements of the nation that lie exterior authorities management and the place armed teams are concerned in drug trafficking and different illicit actions. The INDEPAZ analysis institute recorded almost 100 massacres final 12 months.

The Colombian authorities signed a peace settlement with the FARC in 2016, which noticed members of the left-wing insurgent group disarm, however some FARC dissidents rejected the deal and continued to make use of armed violence.

Late final 12 months, the Colombian authorities concluded a first spherical of peace talks with the nation’s largest remaining armed group, the Nationwide Liberation Military (ELN), in neighbouring Venezuela.

Then, on New 12 months’s Eve, Petro declared that a non permanent truce had been agreed with the nation’s 5 largest armed teams, together with the ELN, from January 1 to June 30.

Bogota later backtracked on that announcement after the ELN rebels stated they weren't a part of any such deal. However Inside Minister Alfonso Prada stated ceasefires remained in power with the opposite 4 teams, together with the Estado Mayor Central FARC dissidents.

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post