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The Colombian government delegation at peace talks with the National Liberation Army on Monday condemned an “armed offensive” — which confines civilians to their homes and restricts commercial activity — that the rebel group is carrying out this week in response to a U.S. military naval buildup in the Caribbean.
Colombia’s delegation said in a statement that it was a decision by the Marxist guerrilla force, which has been active and known since the 1960s. Spanish Acronyms ELNCarrying out an “armed strike” only impacts Colombia’s rural communities.
“There is no point in protesting against actions of the US government targeted against communities,” the government delegation said.
ELN “armed attacks” often include closing schools in areas under the group’s control. shops And public transportation has also been called off, and civilians who disobey rebel orders have been threatened with death.
The ELN said its latest “armed strike” would last until 6 a.m. local time (1100 GMT) on Wednesday.
In a statement published on Friday, the rebels justified the measure by citing the Trump administration’s “neo-colonialist plans” to “discard” Latin America’s natural resources.
The group’s strike announcement came a day after trump Authorities seized an oil tanker Venezuelacoast, as Washington steps up pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the Trump administration accuses of sending drugs to the United States.
The tanker was sanctioned by US authorities in 2022 for its alleged role in oil smuggling on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and was carrying at least one million barrels of crude purchased by Cuba.
Colombia’s human rights ombudsman said in a statement on Monday that ELN rebels attacked a military base in Arauca province and a police station in Norte de Santander province during an “armed attack.” The human rights defender said an ambulance driver was killed during the attack on a police station, as gunfire broke out between the two sides.
Colombia suspended peace talks with the ELN in January after the rebel group launched a series of deadly attacks on villages in northeastern Colombia, forcing more than 50,000 people to flee their homes.
Both sides still have peace delegations that have tried unsuccessfully to restart talks.
The ELN is Colombia’s second-largest rebel group, with an estimated 6,000 fighters in Colombia and neighboring Venezuela. The group has been accused of running illegal gold mines and drug trafficking routes in both countries, and supports Maduro’s authoritarian government.
The government of Colombia has attempted to negotiate peace with the ELN and several other rebel groups over the past three years, with the administration of President Gustavo Petro granting several ceasefires as an incentive to these groups. Critics argue that rebels have used the ceasefire to recruit more fighters and tighten their grip on rural communities.
In 2016, Colombia reached a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish acronym FARC, which led to the disarmament of more than 13,000 fighters. The ELN and several other groups are now fighting for territory vacated by the FARC.