Colombia’s Constitutional Court said Thursday it did not order the exit of the Colombian armed forces from indigenous reserves in the southeastern Meta and Guaviare departments.
“The court did not order the [dismantling] of the two military bases located in the Meta and Guaviare department, [only] the return of six hectares of collective territory […] in the department of Guaviare,” the Constiutional Court said.
The six hectares are currently being occupied by special forces unit of the Colombian Navy. The order of the court was to remove the 19 constructions on this land so the indigenous could properly live on the territory.
“The national security will not be compromised with the relocation of any of these structures,” said the court.
On Thursday, Colombian media reported the court had ordered the exit of the armed forces from two indigenous reservations in Meta and Guaviare.
The commander of the Colombian armed forces, general Alejandro Navas, said the presumtive exit of the military presence from the territory represented a “clear threat to national security.”
According to the official, a removal of the military base would open a strategic corridor for the left-wing FARC rebels active in the area.