In an event that has shaken the political and security landscape in Colombia, a caravan of the National Protection Unit (UNP), transporting armed dissidents, was intercepted by the Army. This incident, which involved the arrest of several dissident leaders of the FARC, has generated a wave of criticism and questions about the National Government’s peace policy.
Se conocen más videos de la tensa situación que se vive a esta hora en el sector Porcesito, entre Barbosa y Cisneros, donde escoltas de la UNP, al parecer, no permiten que el Ejército capture a tres cabecillas de las disidencias de las Farc.
Dentro de las camionetas están alias… pic.twitter.com/Dnh71zuSCI
— MiOriente (@MiOriente) July 23, 2024
The caravan, composed of seven SUVs, was traveling from Tibú, Norte de Santander, to Anorí, northeastern Antioquia. On its journey of over 600 kilometers, it was stopped at an Army checkpoint in the Puente Gabino sector, in the Porce district (Santo Domingo). Upon noticing the presence of recognized guerrillas, the soldiers detained the caravan, initiating a procedure that lasted nine hours and resulted in seven arrests.
The checkpoint became the scene of a kind of cold war. The authorities sought to execute the arrests of the leaders, including Alexánder Díaz Mendoza, alias Calarcá, second in command of the Central General Staff. On the other hand, the ex-guerrillas shielded themselves with legal arguments and suspended arrest warrants, claiming their participation in peace negotiations with the National Government.
With the support of the Police and the Army, the SUVs were transferred to the Pedro Nel Ospina battalion in Bello to carry out the necessary inspections. Alias Firu, commander of the 36th front, was among those arrested due to his multiple unsuspended arrest warrants for various crimes. Along with him, Diana Carolina Rey Rodríguez, alias Érika Castro, and Ómar Delgado Novoa, alias El Boyaco, were also detained.
Alias Ramiro, leader of the 18th front, was arrested in flagrante delicto for possessing a pistol and $26 million in cash, despite having his arrest warrant suspended. Other detainees include Juan Antonio Agudelo Salazar, alias Urías Perdomo, Wenser Yosony Duque, alias Óliver González, and María Alejandra Ojeda Londoño.
The Prosecutor’s Office ordered the release of three of the detainees, including alias Ramiro, based on the suspension of arrest warrants. This has generated a new political crisis, with criticisms of the National Government’s peace policy and its handling of negotiations with the dissidents.
Carlos Eduardo García Téllez, alias Andrey, political commander of the Magdalena Medio Bloc, defended that the caravan was authorized and blamed the Government for the arrests. The National Government, in turn, argued that the caravan was authorized for territorial transformations and that the situation needs to be clarified.
This incident has highlighted the complexities and tensions in the peace process in Colombia. While some see the operation as a success in the fight against dissidents, others criticize the arrests and their impact on the peace negotiations. The controversy continues to develop, with an open debate on the legality and political implications of these actions.