Citizens of southwest Colombia port city trapped as FARC ups offensive

Colombia Reports

A combination of an increase in FARC attacks on public security forces and infrastructure, combined with public protests and a closed road has put the people of the south Pacific town in critical danger.

Two separate attacks occurred Wednesday injuring four police officers.

A grenade thrown in a CAI unit in the Citadel district injured two police officers. Other police were able to react and arrest the suspected guerrilla perpetrators. The second attack occurred just south of the town when alleged FARC rebels attacked a patrol of marines, injuring two more officers.

The war-torn port town also experienced attacks on police patrols on Saturday. One officer was killed and a further two were injured as FARC guerrillas attacked police patrol with grenades.

End of FARC truce: 2 civilians, 1 cop, 1 soldier and 1 guerrilla killed, and 350 civilians displaced

The people of Tumaco are currently trapped amidst this war-related violence.

The Colombian port sits on the Pacific Coast with just one road connecting to nearby Pasto, the capital of the Nariño province.

However, traveling inland has become virtually impossible as indigenous and peasant protesters have been blocking the road. The protesters are demanding healthcare, sanitation and education services of both the provincial and national government.

Furthermore, cargo and passenger carriers have ceased activity amid an economic shutdown imposed by the FARC that threatens to burn any vehicle ignoring or defying the rebel order.

The attacks on security forces resumed and the economic shutdown was imposed after the FARC suspended a unilateral ceasefire they had called in December last year after 26 alleged rebels were killed in an airstrike.

FARC suspends unilateral ceasefire after military air strike kills at least 26 guerrillas

Despite the recent escalation of violence, peace talks in Havana, Cuba continue amid public skepticism of possible peace with the left arguing only a bilateral ceasefire would enable progress and the right questioning why negotiations should even continue with what they consider “narco-terrorists.”

Reactions to Colombia’s peace process gone in reverse

Sources

Crítica situación en el puerto de Tumaco por ataques terroristas de las Farc y bloqueo de indígenas y campesinos (Radio Santa Fe)

Ataque con explosivos en Tumaco dejó varios heridos (El Colombiano)

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