Soldiers Detained by FARC Dissident Group in Colombia
On the morning of Saturday, August 10, it was reported that nearly 100 soldiers from the Colombian National Army were detained in the department of Guaviare by a group claiming to be “peasant guards.” The incident occurred in three different areas as the soldiers were traveling to the villages of Puerto Nuevo and Puerto Cachicamo for a scheduled meeting with local merchants.
Authorities believe the abduction is the work of Alexis Guerra, alias “Cantarino,” a prominent member of the Jorge Suárez Briceño faction, a dissident group of the FARC. It is believed that alias “Cantarino” orchestrated the operation by summoning the soldiers to the area with the intention of detaining them.
The Colombian military confirmed the kidnapping and reported the incident to the Attorney General’s Office. The captors demand the presence of the mayor of San José del Guaviare, along with delegates from the MAPP, OAS, UN, Ombudsman’s Office, and Attorney General’s Office, as a condition for releasing the soldiers.
The soldiers were deployed to the area in response to threats and extortion carried out by alias “Cantarino,” who forced local merchants to close their businesses between July 22 and 26. The Joint Task Force Omega issued a statement demanding the immediate release of the soldiers, highlighting their role in protecting the community’s security.
Images have emerged on social media showing soldiers surrounded by armed individuals in a rural area, where their advance was obstructed and they were forced to retreat. Authorities and relief agencies are planning to approach the area on Saturday morning in an attempt to mediate and secure the release of the soldiers, who have been held for over 20 hours.
Despite still retaining their weapons and personal belongings, the situation remains tense due to the context of extortion and threats prevalent in the Guaviare and Meta regions. Authorities remain vigilant as efforts to resolve the crisis continue.