Colombia’s government has reactivated arrest orders for top leaders of the National Liberation Army (ELN), accused of deadly violence in a cocaine turf war with dissident guerrillas from another armed group. The move comes as at least 80 people have been killed and thousands displaced in Colombia’s Catatumbo region over the past week.
The ELN, led by former negotiator Pablo Beltrán, has been involved in a turf war with FARC dissidents over control of strategic drug routes. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of signatories to the 2016 peace agreement and civilians in the region.
President Gustavo Petro’s government had suspended warrants against top ELN commanders in 2022 as part of an effort to coax the group into a peace deal. However, with the recent surge in violence, Petro has suspended the peace talks.
The chief prosecutor’s office has ordered the arrest of 31 rebel leaders, including Beltrán and military commander Antonio García. Colombia’s Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo has condemned the violence and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
International officials have also condemned the bloodshed, with the top UN official in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, calling it an “act against peace itself”. The US and Colombian governments have expressed support for Petro’s efforts to bring peace and stability to the region.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/colombia-rebels-cocaine-war-national-liberation-army-5d938cb6bf41884bb8f528ee8d69b964