BOGOTA (Reuters) – National Liberation Army rebels are targeting community leaders and former members of a separate rebel group in the northeastern Catatumbo region, Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez said on Sunday, while local authorities said the violence had killed 80 people.
The violence – the deadliest in recent years – last week prompted President Gustavo Petro to accuse the ELN of committing a war crime and suspend peace talks with the group.
The ELN launched an offensive against former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels who were demobilized under the 2016 peace deal, their families and some community leaders, Velasquez said from the eastern city of Cucuta.
Historically, Colombian rebel groups have fought the government, right-wing paramilitaries, and each other for control of territory and illegal sources of income such as drug trafficking. Armed groups also often target civilians who oppose their activities.
Velasquez said that the fighting led to the displacement of eight thousand people. Although the death toll was announced at 60, the Norte de Santander Province Governor's Office and the Human Rights Ombudsman put the death toll at 80.
The ELN said in a statement on Sunday that demobilized FARC rebels had returned to arms and that the victims were not civilians.
