International
Armed group intercepts humanitarian caravan in Colombia
September 26 |
A delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Ombudsman’s Office and the Church was intercepted in a rural area of Arauca by armed men who presented themselves as alleged members of the ELN to rescue eight of their own who had previously been kidnapped by FARC dissidents after a confrontation on Sunday.
The humanitarian mission had planned to transfer on Monday the eight freed by FARC dissidents, who had been deprived of their freedom after a previous armed confrontation.After the frustrated transfer, the eight released returned to the ELN, their group of origin.
This situation was rejected by the Ombudsman, Carlos Camargo, who expressed his concern at the lack of respect by the armed groups for the humanitarian missions in the territories they currently control.
“As Ombudsman I see with absolute concern the degradation that the armed conflict in Colombia is suffering, particularly with what happened in Arauca to a humanitarian mission led by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in which the Ombudsman’s Office, the Catholic Church, the Mission to Support the Peace Process of the OAS (MAPP-OAS), the UN Verification Mission and the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace participated”, stated Camargo.
For Camargo, this act was a violation of the ceasefire with the government, so both the Ombudsman’s Office and the Red Cross rejected the operation of these subjects.
“We regret that a humanitarian mission aimed at rescuing people who were being held by FARC dissidents, and who were handed over to a team headed by the ICRC, was intercepted by armed men who identified themselves as members of the ELN and took the people who had been rescued, under the argument that they belonged to their troops,” argued the Colombian Ombudsman.
Although no member of the mission that was intercepted was injured by the ELN, the International Committee of the Red Cross called for their humanitarian actions to be respected as “failure to do so will have a direct impact on communities affected by armed conflict”.
“It is paramount that armed actors allow impartial humanitarian organizations access to all territories so that they can alleviate the suffering of those who do not or no longer participate in the hostilities,” the Red Cross said.
International
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
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