2024-07-24 05:39:07
The Army stopped several trucks at a checkpoint on the Medellín-Anorí highway on Tuesday, transporting leaders of the 18th and 36th structures of the FARC dissident group.
Among those arrested are aliases ‘Ramiro’ and ‘Firu’, as well as alias ‘Calarcá’.
In total, seven vans were intercepted and among the occupants would be Alexander Mendoza, alias ‘Calarcá Córdoba’, a leader of the structures of this armed group that currently participating in the dialogue table with the National Government.
Among the passengers were also Andrey Avendaño, another delegate of the group in the peace process, as well as ‘Ramiro’, head of structure 18, and ‘Firu’, leader of structure 36. The presence of dissidents with outstanding arrest warrants, such as ‘Firu’, in these vehicles has generated a controversy.
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Under the peace process, some guerrilla members whose arrest warrants have been lifted can use these vehicles, in line with the ceasefire agreed with the government.
The UNP issued a statement on the incident, saying that vehicles must be taken to safe places and monitored by authorities to avoid violations of the peace policy.
“UNP procedure regarding the checkpoint of a caravan of vehicles in Antioquia. At around 9 a.m. today, the director of the National Protection Unit, UNP, learned of the checkpoint on the Medellín-Anorí highway (Puente Gabino) of a collective protection scheme. It is forbidden for schemes to transport people with arrest warrants, combatants, or to visit war zones, as well as to provide logistical support for activities, transport of supplies and elements that affect the peace policy. For security reasons, vehicles should not be forced to be opened on the road and therefore they should be driven to safe infrastructures and monitored by the authorities,” the UNP said.
The governor of Antioquia, Andrés Julián Rendón, confirmed that among those arrested is believed to be Alexander Díaz Mendoza, alias ‘Calarcá’, commander of the Magdalena Medio Block and negotiator of the Central General Staff with the Government. It should be remembered that last February, the Prosecutor’s Office lifted the arrest warrant against ‘Calarcá’ to facilitate his participation in the peace process.
“Three leaders of the FARC dissidents are detained and refuse to get out of their vehicles. We commend the officers for their courage and we await the capture of these criminals,” said the Governor of Antioquia.
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