Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
  • About us
  • Support us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
FARC-EP (Photo: Pensa Latina)
ElectionsNews

14 election officials ‘detained by FARC’ in southwest Colombia

by Maren Soendergaard March 9, 2014

Officials in southwest Colombia reported Saturday that 14 election officers were detained for several hours by rebels active in the area, according to national media. The officials, among them a police inspector and representatives of the National Registrar’s Office, were traveling by boat to the Solano municipality in the southern state of Caqueta to inspect Sunday’s congressional elections when they were stopped, allegedly by the FARC, Colombia’s oldest rebel group.

MORE: Polls open at start of ‘most important congressional election in 50 years‘ 

After spending several hours in rebel custody near the Coemani indigenous community, the officials were eventually released and were able to reach their destination in time to oversee the congressional elections Sunday, Caracol Radio reported.

State officials reportedly told the radio station that three voting booths in and around Solano had been relocated prior to the 8AM start time for voting, after the Colombian army detected land mines in the immediate vicinity.

Early Sunday, local police from the central state of Antioquia also attributed an attack on an army patrol unit to FARC guerrillas. 

MORE: Alleged FARC attack on army patrol unit in northwest Colombia

Last week, government officials called on both the FARC and ELN rebel groups to refrain from interfering in Sunday’s election process.

MORE: Colombia senate president asks FARC, ELN for ceasefire during elections

The FARC is currently engaged in ongoing peace talks with the Colombian government, but no ceasefire was declared prior to the start of negotiations in November 2012.

Sources

  • Funcionarios de la Registraduría retenidos por las Farc en Solano, Caquetá (Caracol Radio)
2014 electionsCaquetaFARCpolitical violence

Trending

  • Medellin hospitals on brink of collapse amid COVID-19 surge

  • Colombia’s prosecution opens investigation against opposition presidential candidate

  • Bogota announces weekend lockdown, tougher mobility restrictions

Weekly interviews and news updates

Related articles

  • One of Colombia’s most famous comedians reports death threats to children

  • Paramilitary cooperation with truth commission threatens Colombia’s political superpowers

  • Are corrupt politicians plotting against Colombia’s ex-president?

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • RSS

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top