Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has declared a state of emergency in response to deadly attacks by the National Liberation Army (ELN) in the northeast. The measure, which enables the executive branch to pass certain kinds of legislation without congressional approval for three months, was announced on Monday after at least 80 people were killed in the Catatumbo region.
The ELN has been accused of turning into a drug trafficking group and using violent tactics reminiscent of Pablo Escobar’s methods. Petro had initiated peace talks with the rebels in 2022 but negotiations have stalled due to disagreements over disarmament and economic reforms.
Thousands of people, including former rebel fighters who demobilized in a 2016 peace deal, have fled their homes fearing for their lives. The United Nations estimates that 18,300 people are now displaced, with many staying in shelters and hotels.
Petro has warned that the military will take offensive actions against the ELN, saying “The ELN has chosen the path of war, and that’s what they will get.” However, critics have raised concerns about the erosion of civil rights and the suspension of congressional approval.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, community leaders are urging the armed groups to consider the welfare of rural residents. The 2016 peace deal, which led to the demobilization of 11,000 fighters, has left a power vacuum in some areas that smaller rebel groups have tried to fill.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/colombia-eln-violence-petro-7c0ec0b598be4f85a40a9788d92e4838