The defense minister said the change of strategy was aimed at protecting civilians, including children forced to join rebel groups.
Colombia’s new leftist government says it will suspend aerial bombings against armed groupin an effort to reduce the deaths of civilians and children forcibly recruited into organizations.
Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez told reporters on Thursday that the move was a symbol of the government’s willingness to engage possible conversations with armed groups.
It marked a shift in Colombia’s strategy against leftist and leftist rebels drug trafficking gang between a recent increased violenceespecially in remote parts of the country.
“The bombings must be stopped. We will evaluate the specific moment that an absolute guideline can be established, but that is the direction we want to take,” Velasquez said.
He added: “Children who are raped by illegal groups are victims of this violence. “Therefore, no military action against illegal armed organizations could endanger the lives of these victims.
“We have to substitute life for death and cannot carry out operations … that endanger the lives of civilians.”
The bombing of rebel camps has been a controversial topic in Colombia, where a brutal civil conflict has raged for nearly six decades and left more 450,000 people died.
In 2019, then-Defense Minister Guillermo Botero resigned after eight children aged 12 to 17 who were forcibly recruited were killed in a military raid against political dissidents. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group.
Two years later, a leftist lawmaker announced four children had been killed in a bombing campaign that brought down a leader of the National Liberation Army (ELN).
Are from President Gustavo Petro – a veteran insurgency – elected in June, the new government has focused on changing the tactics used by the military, demanding that it be more respectful of human rights and act to preserve peace .
Rebel groups have long ago child recruitment to increase their rankings, especially in areas with little state presence.
The Government of Colombia signed a peace agreement with the FARC in 2016, but dissident members of the group rejected that agreement and refused to lay down their arms.
Meanwhile, ELN – country largest armed group left – insisted on Twitter that their central command had enough authority over the fractured combat units to negotiate a real peace with the government.
Petro said that he plan to negotiate with the rebels in an attempt to end the conflict.
Colombia Risk Analysis consulting firm Written on Twitter on Thursday night. “His demobilization experience coupled with intense pressure from his base will likely strongly influence his desire to achieve peace process success during his tenure.”
