The National Army announced that 200 soldiers arrived in Barrancabermeja, Santander, to strengthen security in the city. In this way, there will be more than 2,000 uniformed personnel who will be in charge of the surveillance of the oil port.
The arrival of the military squadron is implemented within the framework of the Comprehensive Security Plan in order to strengthen surveillance. “The intention is to preserve and strengthen the security of the nation's main strategic asset, the Refinery, and the municipality of Barrancabermeja,” said Omar Sepulveda, commander of the Army's Second Division.
The plan was activated on March 17 and the National Army assured that the soldiers will assume responsibility for protecting “this important strategic asset, together with the Artillery units present in the Special District,” according to a press release shared by the entity.
Other institutions will be involved in the Army plan, such as the Urban Special Forces, the Municipal Police and the Air Force, in the event of some joint operations. In turn, soldiers will use cavalry vehicles, explosive and demolition equipment, and motorized units to reinforce the public order situation.
“It is very important that citizens are calm. We are ready to receive any information about the narco-terrorist groups that intend to enter this Special District of Barrancabermeja,” said the commander, assuring that the authorities will neutralize them “in an efficient and forceful manner.”
For his part, the mayor of Barrancabermeja, Alfonso Eljach, thanked the National Army for its “institutional effort that combines human talent, strategy and equipment”. He also stressed that it is “important that we have more security guarantees, here in this battalion we have been working for the last two years together with the Police, the Prosecutor's Office, the Public Ministry, and all the authorities in order to ensure that peace of mind for all.”
This Comprehensive Security Plan comes after the recent attacks on an Ecopetrol oil infrastructure in Barrancabermeja. The first was reported on January 24 and the second on February 13, and although there were no casualties in the attacks, they set off alarms for the authorities.
It should be remembered that the Barrancabermeja refinery is the oldest in Colombia, with an age of 100 years. Inaugurated on February 18, 1922, it currently produces 225,000 barrels a day, 30% of the country's oil capacity. This scenario has caused the inhabitants of the Special District to suffer situations of violence.
Victims commemorate 23 years of the Barrancabermeja massacre
On February 28, the Victims Collective commemorated 23 years of the massacre perpetrated by groups of the Self-Defense Forces Unity of Colombia (AUC) of Santander and Cesar in Barrancabermeja.
On 28 February 1999, eight people were killed and two others were disappeared. The events happened on a Sunday and in the Provivienda neighborhood of the oil city a bazaar was held with the presence of several families from the community. While children were playing, the paramilitaries entered the neighborhood shooting indiscriminately.
Routes del Conflict reconstructed the steps of that day of the paramilitary group. After the bazaar, the armed group went to the Ecopetrol Yacht Club, where they killed a taxi driver and a lottery retailer. The last three victims were two merchants and the manager of a bank in another sector of the city. In addition, a young man and a taxi driver were abducted and were not heard from again.
Figures from the Victims Unit indicate that 96 people among survivors, relatives of those killed and disappeared, are considered victims of this event. Until December 2021, the Colombian State has given $1 billion pesos to the affected people. In addition, the Victims Unit highlighted that socialization days have been held for an adequate investment of the resources provided.
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