It's hard to believe, but Colombia might be lying about FARC again

Colombian soldiers carry the body of an army soldier killed after a clash between the army and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, April 15, 2015. | Photo: Reuters

An investigation by the Broad Front for Peace Thursday revealed that witness statements sharply contradict the official version of events being put forward by the military forces of Colombia.

A delegation from the Broad Front for Peace visited residents who live in the area where a clash between government forces and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) earlier this week left 11 government soldiers and two guerrillas dead.

Cristian Delgado, a member of the verification team that traveled to the rural area of Colombia, told Contagio Radio that the witnesses he spoke to said that there had been a lengthy gun battle, contradicting army claims that they had been ambushed and could not respond to the attack.

The verification team spoke to 300 residents in the area who said that at approximately 11:30 p.m. an explosion was heard, which was followed by an exchange of gunfire that lasted until approximately 6 a.m. Delgado said that the team was unable to determine what triggered the first explosion nor who was responsible for the explosion.

General Jaime Lasprilla, commander of the Colombian Army, was quick to deem the clash a “premeditated” and “deliberate” attack by the FARC. Official statements by the military also claimed it was a one-sided attack and that the soldiers were defenseless as they were killed while they slept.

However, the six hour gun battle suggests that government soldiers did in fact have the opportunity to defend themselves.

The military also claimed that they had arrived in the area only recently and set up camp that night under the roof of a sports arena because of rainfall. Residents said that it did not begin raining that night until after midnight, well after the clash had already begun.

The investigation also revealed the army had in fact been camping out at that location since March 19. In a press conference the morning after the clash, General Lasprilla said that the military were there to protect the civilian population. Yet residents said that they repeatedly requested that the soldiers leave, as the arena was a mere 50 meters from a populated area and their presence could bring danger.

Residents told Delgado that the army had said they had orders from “higher up” to remain in the area.

The soldiers did eventually leave but returned on April 11, five days before the confrontation. Upon their return, the army set up a temporary base at the arena, suggesting they had ample time to follow protocol and establish a secure base.

Delgado expressed doubts that the FARC ambushed the government soldiers. In his opinion the installation of a military base there was a provocative move that he considered “an offensive operation” as the FARC were widely known to have been active in the area.

The residents who spoke to the delegation from the Broad Front for Peace denounced the fact that a civilian installation was used as a military base and that one of the soldiers apparently sought refuge in the home of a civilian during the gun battle - acts that they considered to be a violation of international law.

FARC commander Pablo Catatumbo blamed the government for the clash, adding that the government has been repeatedly attacking the guerrillas, despite the declaration of a unilateral cease-fire by the rebels.

"Given the circumstances, the fact the government has refused to sign a bilateral cease-fire agreement, it makes them solely responsible for the victims the war is generating,” said Catatumbo.

Colombian President Santos, however, responded by ordering Colombia’s armed forces to resume bombing campaigns against the camps of the FARC, marking an escalation of the conflict despite ongoing peace talks in Havana, Cuba between the FARC and the Santos government.

Delgado said that people in the area are extremely concerned about possible military actions in the area and demanded that the peace negotiations continue and for a bilateral cease-fire to be implemented.

The Broad Front for Peace is expected to release a report of its findings in the coming days.

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