Colombia’s establishment candidate disappoints in election polls
Colombia’s far-right trying to postpone presidential elections
Colombia’s opposition embarks on anti-election fraud offensive
Establishment candidate in Colombia’s elections linked to mafia
Far-right group goes from opposing communism to opposing...
ELN declares unilateral ceasefire ahead of Colombia’s elections
Colombia’s opposition dismisses US claim of ‘Russian threat’
Colombia’s drug policy a ‘failure’ that obstructed peace:...
Medellin government rejects ‘illegitimate’ interim mayor
Electoral violence in Colombia doubled since 2018
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
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
News

2,200 troops pursue FARC leader in southern Colombia

by Tom Heyden June 15, 2011

Colombia News - Army

The Colombian military forces have increased security in the southern department of Caqueta following a spate of deadly attacks in recent days, with some 2,200 troops in pursuit of the FARC leader accused of orchestrating the incidents, Caracol Radio reported Wednesday.

Two people were killed and at least eight more injured in separate FARC attacks Tuesday, in the municipality of Puerto Rico, Caqueta, prompting the influx of army reinforcements aimed to increase security in the region.

The target of some 2,200 troops is Hernán Diario Velásquez Saldarriaga, alias “El Paisa,” the leader of the FARC’s Teofilo Forero squadron that the military authorities have blamed for perpetrating the deadly attacks upon the population of Puerto Rico municipality.

General Juan Carlos Salazar, commander of the army’s sixth division, said that it is necessary to recognize the capacity of this FARC group to inflict attacks such as on Tuesday, yet it is also pertinent to realize that this FARC structure has been debilitated to the extent that at this time there are only three squadrons compared to the six they had in the past.

During the last four months, Salazar continued, Colombian authorities have neutralized 25 medium-level members of the structure and therefore right now “they are desperately trying to make any type of attack in order to diminish the military pressure on their bosses.”

The government has offered a reward of up to $1.4 million (COP2.5 billion) for information leading to the capture of El Paisa, while there is a $280,000 (COP500 million) on the head of alias “Divan,” who is believed to have participated directly in the recent attacks.

CaquetaEl PaisaFARCmilitaryPuerto Rico

Trending

  • Why Colombia’s upcoming elections could trigger a crisis

  • Colombia’s inspector general suspends mayors on election meddling charges

  • Medellin government rejects ‘illegitimate’ interim mayor

Related articles

  • The retired general’s lies before Colombia’s war crimes tribunal

  • Colombia’s army chief investigated over election meddling

  • Army chief takes sides in Colombia’s election race

  • RSS

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


Back To Top