Colombia Warns of Paramilitary Recruitment of Children in Cauca
Detailed of a Weapon (Referencial Image) Photo: EFE
July 12, 2024 Hour: 8:23 pm
The Colombian Government has stated on several occasions that it is investigating the facts and is searching for and capturing the recruitment network.
The Colombian Ombudsman’s Office warned of the forced recruitment of 36 minors in the department of Cauca (southwestern Colombia) by a dissident FARC during the last days,
RELATED:
Venezuela Proposes to Colombia to Jointly Investigate Paramilitary Activities
The Colombian Government has stated on several occasions that it is investigating the facts and is searching for and capturing the recruitment network.
“We will be attentive to verify the information with our teams in the territory and the respective investigations carried out by the competent authorities to corroborate this information,” the Ombudsman added.
However, the recruitment figures have “large” under-registration because families face threats if they report the situation, the Ombudsman warned in a statement, which may end up causing forced displacement.
In Suarez there is a strong presence of the Central General Staff (EMC), the main dissidence of the FARC, who in recent months has been the protagonist of numerous attacks and even this week attacked the vice-presidential caravan, impacting with a rifle the van in which normally travels the Colombian vice president, France Marquez, which is native of this municipality, although it did not travel in the vehicle at the time.
Last week the Office of the Ombudsman issued an Early Warning (AT) in the departments of Huila (south) and Cauca (southwest), rural areas where children, adolescents and young people -some indigenous, Afro-Colombians or peasants- and their families and communities “are suffering the violation of their rights”.
So far this year, 14 cases of underage recruitment have been identified in Páez (Cauca): five children between 13 and 14 years old, four between 14 and 17 years old, and the rest are not known.
At least 101 children and adolescents have been recruited by illegal armed groups this year in Colombia, the Police reported last week that 47 cases occurred in the troubled department of Cauca, a hot zone in terms of violence against civilians.
Autor: CC
Fuente: EFE