WOLA joins the United Nations, Human Rights Ombudsman, Defendemos la Paz, and others calling for an immediate end to the violence perpetrated by illegal armed groups in the Catatumbo region in Colombia, located near the Colombian-Venezuelan border. The National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional, ELN) must cease human rights violations and adopt a truce to halt armed confrontations with the FARC dissidents (Estado Mayor de los Bloques). Colombia’s national and regional governments must act promptly to rescue those trapped in the violence and provide immediate humanitarian aid and protection to internally displaced persons. All armed groups must respect international humanitarian law and allow relief efforts to reach those in need.
The findings from the National Human Rights Ombudsman’s preliminary report on January 18 paint a grim picture: Approximately 60 violent deaths have been recorded in Convención, Ábrego, Teorama, Hacarí, and Tibú. Press reports indicated the death toll may be as high as 80, with 20 others wounded. Among the victims are social leader Carmelo Guerrero of the Association for the Campesino Unity of Catatumbo (ASUNCAT) and seven former FARC combatants who demobilized under the 2016 peace accord with the FARC. Last Thursday, twenty individuals were kidnapped, including ten women, with the Ombudsman’s Office reporting that 17 remain captive as of yesterday. Throughout the region, thousands of people have been internally displaced. Others are facing acute humanitarian emergencies due to confinement and are at high risk of internal displacement. Some people have fled to Venezuela. Colombia’s Foreign Ministry reported that sixty persons fled to the Zulia state in Venezuela.
The situation in Catatumbo is critical. Elderly persons, women, children, and individuals with disabilities require special attention. Indigenous communities are particularly affected. The Indigenous Bari Irocobingkayra community in El Tarra were internally displaced to the La Gabarra Catalaura reserve. According to the Ombudsman’s Office, Tibú has received at least 2,500 displaced people via land and water. Hundreds of families are arriving in Cúcuta, and approximately 850 reached Ocaña. The Yukpa Indigenous peoples are also severely affected, with many at risk of displacement and others who have already fled to Tibú and Venezuela. The Ucha Petajpo and Manuracha Indigenous have also been affected.
We call on Colombia’s national and regional governments to collaborate with local and national ethnic authorities, including the Ethnic Commission, to guarantee a culturally appropriate and comprehensive response to this humanitarian crisis.