News Update: Colombia Share This /

Entire Country

• The major story last week was the arrest of Joaquín Pérez Becerra, the FARC's alleged spokesman. Pérez, also known as Alberto Martinez, was detained at a Venezuelan airport after arriving in the country on a flight from Frankfurt, Germany. Interpol accuses him of conspiracy to commit crimes and financing terrorism and he is believed to be the editor of the Sweden-based Anncol, which regularly publishes FARC material. Pérez denies claims that he is a FARC member, referring to himself as a “social communicator”. He was extradited to Colombia last Monday and then promptly sent to jail in Bogotá while he awaits trial. The arrest and subsequent extradition was the latest sign of warming ties between the two countries, whose relationship has been improving since Santos took office in August.

   

  Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos praised Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez following the arrest, saying, "I gave him the name and asked that he collaborate with us in his capture. He did not hesitate; it was done immediately when the plane landed." The detention of Pérez bothered some of Chávez' followers, who demonstrated in front of the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declaring his detention “a violation of human rights.”

• According to a new report presented in the Colombian congress on Thursday, more than 330 municipalities, spanning 12 departments, have a strong FARC presence. According to the report that is fewer municipalities than were affected last year, although there are some alarming trends in the affected departments point to an increase in the murders of mayors, ex-mayors, indigenous people and trade unionists, as well as an increase in civilian and military abductions. This report may serve to contradict a recent statement made by Admiral Edgar Cely, the commander of Colombia's armed forces, that the FARC and the ELN are “dying”, although the commander believes the uptick in attacks is purely an attempt by the guerrilla groups to remain visible.
• Despite the increase in rebel attacks, the country's murder rate has dropped by eight percent compared to the first four months of 2010. Colombia Reports notes that the 4,469 homicides the country has seen so far this year is 335 fewer than it had seen at this time in 2010. Pereira, Cartagena, Cucuta and Medellin saw 130 fewer deaths than in the first months of 2010. However, Cali has actually seen an increase in homicides and according to statistics from a branch of the Vice President's office kidnappings and massacres are both on the rise.

Antioquia

• NECHÍ: Six members of the criminal group “Los Rastrojos” were captured by the army Thursday in Nechí, a municipality in Antioquia El Espectador reported. Among the six was “Junior”, full name Fredy Alberto Vega Rua, who is thought to be the third-in-command of “Los Rastrojos” and, according to Colombia Reports has seven outstanding arrest warrants for crimes including conspiracy, forced displacement and murder. The arrests bring the number of criminal gang members and paramilitaries captured under Operation “Troya”, an offensive launched against northern Colombia's criminal networks in February, to 320.
• EL BAGRE: Óscar Galvis, alias “Pantera”, the second-in-command of the criminal group “Los Rastrojos” was captured Sunday for the third time in El Bagre, a municipality in Bajo Cauca. The right hand of Ángel de Jesús Pacheco, alias “Sebastián”, he is allegedly responsible for 60 percent of assassinations in the Bajo Cauca portion of the Antioquia department. He is believed to be the boss of the criminal group’s hitmen, and is also accused of being involved in a large number of grenade attacks and extortions.

Cauca

• JAMBALÓ: Three policemen were killed and one civilian was injured in a car bomb attack in the Cauca department last Tuesday night. The attack, which took place in Jambaló, is being attributed to the FARC and left inhabitants of the area without power overnight.

Huila

• ALGECIRAS: Three FARC members were killed and two captured in a rural area of the municipality of Algeciras in the Huila department, El Tiempo reported Thursday. One of the captured rebels was demobilized. The Army said one of the dead, alias “Tropezon” or “Edgar”, was reportedly the deputy of “Genaro”, who was captured in Algeciras on April 21.

Norte de Santander

• FARC rebels bombed the Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline Saturday for the third time this year. While the attack halted transportation of 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day and caused an oil spill in a nearby river, Ecopetrol, the state energy company, said the bombing did not immediately affect exports or production, although it may, depending on when pumping resumes at the pipeline. The Cano Limon-Covenas pipeline runs for 480 miles from the Arauca department to the port of Covenas. The bombing occurred in the Norte de Santander department.

Putumayo

• LA HORMIGA: Three policemen and two civilians were injured in an explosion in La Hormiga last Tuesday night, a municipality in the Putumayo department. The explosive device was directed at a police patrol and two of those injured had to be transferred to the municipal hospital for treatment. The police are attributing the attack to the FARC's 48th front and offering a reward of five million pesos for information that leads to those responsible for the attack.

Valle del Cauca

• PRADERA: A bomb exploded at the Prosecutor General's Office in Pradera, part of the Valle del Cauca department, early Friday morning, leaving five injured. No one was killed in the attack, although the explosion caused damage to ten other nearby buildings. There were reports that a second explosion would occur, but the local bomb squad did not find any other explosive device. No specific group has been accused yet of planting the bomb.

Vichada

• GUERIMA, PUERTO PRINCIPE, CHUPAVE: A joint operation of Colombia’s army and air force destroyed 32 camps of the FARC’s 16th front in Vichada. The operation, named “Avatar”, occurred over the course of several days in the area between the towns of Guerima, Puerto Principe, and Chupave. According to the Air Force, the purpose of the mission was to diminish the front’s armed capacity in order to avoid terrorist actions and kidnappings.

This blog was written by CIP Intern Erin Shea