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ELN attacks in Puerto Rondón, Arauca, may have resulted in 130 displaced people and 15 kidnapped

ELN attacks in Puerto Rondón, Arauca, may have resulted in 130 displaced people and 15 kidnapped

There have been alarming reports recently of attacks by the National Liberation Army (ELN) in Arauca, a department in Colombia. According to representatives of the municipalities of Puerto Rondón and Tame, nearly 130 people have been forced to flee their homes because of the violence.

Witnesses who managed to escape the conflict zone revealed that during the fighting, 15 people were reportedly abducted by armed groups fighting for control of the area. The captives include mainly children and local farmers.

The list of kidnapped people includes Yamile Bustos Arciniegas, a 33-year-old woman, a Venezuelan named Luis Mena, and children Chaira Valentina Vela Bustos, 10, and Johan Stiven Bermúdez Bustos, 7, among others. Other victims include Ángel Parada Parada, Brayan Fabián Herrera Durán, Omar Hernández Lozada and William Harbey Piña Artahona. The situation is dire, especially since the group stressed that some of the kidnapped are minors.

In a joint statement, local authorities expressed deep concern and urged respect for the lives of those involved. They also called on international organizations and the national government to contact the armed group holding the detainees.

The violence has forced civilians from the towns of Normandía, El Progreso and La Esmeralda to move to urban areas such as Puerto Rondón or seek refuge in Tame. Despite the ongoing attacks, residents hope that authorities will intervene to restore order to the countryside, activate emergency protocols and work towards the safe return of the kidnapped people.

The recent ELN attack followed the kidnapping of a social leader from Puerto Rondón named Rubén Vega Vezga. Eyewitness accounts indicate that he was approached by several armed members of the group, who threatened him with a gun before taking him away.

According to the Amazonia Verde Environmental Corporation, the takeover took place on July 20, 2024, in La Esmeralda. Vega was recognized in his community as a key member of the Association of Victims of Arauca Colombia (ASOVICARC) and the Amazonia Verde Environmental Corporation. His whereabouts have been unknown since his abduction.

This organization is adamant about the need for action to secure Vega’s release, emphasizing his role as a father and community leader. They also reported that another farmer, William Arbey Piña Artaona, was kidnapped during this violent incident, and his fate is also uncertain. Local reports indicate that at least five other farmers are currently missing, underscoring the stark reality of kidnapping and forced displacement in the region.

For more information about social issues in Colombia, you can visit organizations such as Human Rights Watch or the United Nations Office for Human Rights.

Image and news source: https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2024/07/22/ataques-del-eln-en-puerto-rondon-arauca-habrian-dejado-130-desplazados-y-15-personas-secuestradas/