Two oil transportation companies have suspended operations in the volatile Caqueta department following an alleged FARC attack earlier this week.
Following a Monday oil truck ambush which killed two employees of driver and another unidentified person, oil transportation companies said they refused to work until their safety could be guaranteed.
Julian Bermeo, a member of one of the transportation companies, said to local media that “once we have full guarantees for the safety of our drivers, assistants and vehicles, then we will resume work.”
The two companies have also called for a march to condemn the recent deaths of the two oil company employees.
The attack came at an inopportune time for Colombia as it plans to auction off 109 oil blocks expected to attract attention from international oil companies. The government had improved its security measures over recent years, causing a surge in production that has doubled since 2007.
Chinese-owned oil company Emerald Energy also suspended operations in Caqueta last Tuesday following a succession of guerrilla attacks during the course of more than a year.
Guerrilla activity in the southern department has intensified over recent years, with foreign oil companies being a favored target of attacks.