2024-09-09 02:10:05
In a serious situation that raised alarms in the El Ejido district, in the municipality of Policarpa, Nariño, three antipersonnel mines were found abandoned near the Agropecuaria El Ejido educational institution. The local community was the one who alerted the Army troops, who acted quickly and in a controlled manner to destroy the explosive devices, thus avoiding a tragedy that could have affected students and teachers in the area.
The discovery was made when local residents noticed the presence of an abandoned military vest near the school, which contained the explosives. They immediately notified the Army, which deployed an operation to deactivate and destroy the mines. This action prevented the devices from causing damage, although fear persists among residents about the possibility of more mines in the surrounding area.
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The use of anti-personnel mines is considered a crime against humanity, as stipulated by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and represents a serious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law. Local authorities have reiterated the seriousness of these acts, especially given the risk they represent for the civilian population, particularly for children who attend the nearby school.
Although it has not been confirmed which armed group planted the explosives, the first hypotheses point to the Franco Benavides residual structure, belonging to the FARC dissidents, which operates in the region. This group has been linked on other occasions with the installation of explosive devices in rural areas of the department of Nariño, in its fight for territorial control.
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The Army has stressed the importance of community involvement in identifying these dangers, and noted that the rapid response to the alert prevented a major tragedy. This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by communities in rural areas, where the presence of anti-personnel mines remains a constant threat, affecting the well-being and safety of residents.