January ended with the above quote from the ELN’s supreme commander, alias Antonio Garcia. That’s how the second half of the month felt with over 100 casualties in Catatumbo and over 50,000 civilians displaced by the fighting.
Colombia faces a new wave of violence causing significant human and material losses, including widespread displacement. The National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI), through its Mining, Hydrocarbons, and Energy Vice Presidency, has strongly condemned recent attacks targeting businesses, contractors, and workers across the country.
Cenit, Ecopetrol’s (NYSE: EC) subsidiary specializing in hydrocarbon transportation and logistics, strongly condemned an attack targeting the National Police’s Hydrocarbons Special Operations Group (GOESH) in Pelaya, a municipality in the Cesar department.
Cenit, a subsidiary of the Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC), activated its Emergency and Contingency Plan (PEC) following an attack on the Coveñas Caño Limón (CCL) pipeline by unidentified individuals.
Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) announced the suspension of its operations in the Catatumbo region due to escalating violence and armed incursions by the National Liberation Army (ELN).
Cenit, a subsidiary of the Ecopetrol Group, announced it will maintain the suspension of operations of the Trasandino Pipeline (OTA) following a detailed assessment of the security and environmental conditions in Nariño and Putumayo, where the pipeline is located.
The National Business Council (Consejo Gremial Nacional) and the Colombian Federation of Cargo Transporters (Colfecar) raised alarm over worsening security issues in Colombia, including a surge in extortion cases and road blockades, despite a decline in kidnappings.
With this quote from High Peace Commissioner Otty Patiño, Colombia kicked off a month where virtually nothing of substance happened although the violence continued.
This month yet another peace process splintered with a small group staying at the table and the primary target withdrawing from the negotiations. Alias Ivan Marquez’s Segunda Marquetalia fired its negotiating team and (figuratively) went back to the mountains, leaving Alias Walter Mendoza without a mandate, except for his own troops.
This phrase of Clausewitz comes to mind this month as Mordisco gets more “stick” than in recent months while others, including the ELN, get offered “carrots”. Meanwhile, the Segunda Marquetalia’s alias Ivan Marquez has not returned anyone’s calls for month so the press speculated he was dead. High Peace Commissioner Otty Patiño assures us he’s just resting.
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