At least five Farc dissidents died in the framework of an operation carried out by the Army against the GAO Carlos Patiño, in actions carried out in the rural area of the municipality of Argelia, department of Cauca.
A soldier also died in the action, while two others were injured, reported the National Army, which regretted the loss of the professional soldier and sent condolences to his relatives.
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What did the National Army say about the fighting in Argelia, Cauca?
“The National Army regrets the death in development of this operation of the professional soldier Edwin Julián Ñáñez Vélez, member of the Rapid Deployment Battalion No. 12, assassinated when he was fulfilling his mission to defend the Caucanos in the south of the department. To his family, friends and colleagues, our respectful greeting of solidarity and support at this difficult time, “said a military statement.
Regarding the death of the dissidents, the Army specified that three of them died in “development of recent combats»while the other two in “operations” that occurred the previous Saturday.
«This action represents the recovery of the territory, as well as the destabilization of the GAO-r Carlos Patiño, whose actions, including the installation of minefieldsviolate human rights and infringe the provisions of international humanitarian law,” the Army said.
These operations occur one day after the detonation of a cylinder-bomb that destroyed a school in the municipality of Suárez, according to the information provided by the Government of Cauca.
The vice president, Francia Márquez, regretted today what happened since she studied in the destroyed educational institution.
«I reject with all my strength the criminal act against the Suárez Agricultural Technical Educational Institution- María Inmaculada Headquarters where I studied primary school. The violent are not going to silence the people and their desire for change. ohWe continue working for the country. Until dignity becomes customary!” said the Vice President.
#HonorAndGloryForever | The men and women of the @COL_EJERCITO, we regret the death of our professional soldier Edwin Julián Ñáñez Vélez, assassinated in the fulfillment of the constitutional mission, in favor of the security and defense of the inhabitants of Cauca. (1) pic.twitter.com/OwjzmpaMfE
— General Luis Mauricio Ospina Gutiérrez (@COMANDANTE_EJC) July 31, 2023
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