Families in Putumayo denounce that people discharged by the Army were not from dissent

Defense Minister Diego Molano announced on March 28 an alleged coup against FARC dissidents in Putumayo, by the National Army. According to the head of the Defence portfolio, there was a fight against the 48th structure of this criminal organization, which committed crimes in this area of the country.

“Thanks to offensive operations by the Public Forces, which continue to be developed, against FARC dissidents, we neutralized 9 criminals and captured 4 more in Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo,” describing the event as a coup with these illegal structures.

But this March 19, relatives of the victims have another version of the events and they distort the information that Molano gave by assuring that there was no fighting and that the public forces are lying. In addition, they expect action to be taken in the face of the Army's allegedly attack on the community.

Even the relatives of the victims have called this a false positive from the authorities and asked for justice before what they described as a murder, according to RCN Radio.

“At no time was there any fighting in that sector and that the deaths occurred in the middle of what would be, an incursion, which would have been made by the military, to the place where the bazaar was held,” say people from the area.

The complainants assured that among the eleven deceased there would be an indigenous governor of the Cabildo Bajo Remanso, from the Kitchwa people and a young member of the Community Action Board of the El Remanso village, a minor under 16 years of age; in addition, a pregnant woman was injured.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Network announced that it is accompanying the minor's relatives.

The Ministry of Defense confirmed that 11 members of the FARC dissidents were dismissed by the National Army. The events occurred during a military operation in a rural area of Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo, where troops clashed with structure 48, also known as 'Border Commandos'.

“Thanks to offensive operations by the Public Forces, which continue to be developed, against FARC dissidents, we neutralized 9 criminals — a figure that later rose to 11 — and captured 4 more in Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo. With all our might we protect Colombia from these symbols of evil,” said Defense Minister Diego Molano.

The National Army assured that four members of the organization belonging to the 'Segunda Marquetalia' dissent were injured and duly captured; among them is a pregnant woman who was transferred to a health care center.

In the confrontation, a professional soldier also suffered injuries, at least five rifles and ammunition have been seized. While the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation is carrying out the judicial proceedings of the four prisoners.

President Iván Duque, for his part, referred to this on his Twitter account. “The relentless offensive against narco-terrorist structures continues in all regions of the country. In the operations of our public forces, the neutralization of 11 members of FARC dissidents was achieved and the capture of 4 more criminals in Puerto Leguizamo (Putumayo),” wrote the president of the Republic.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Defense also announced that this Monday alias' Alex ', the second leader of the FARC dissidents, was neutralized. This event occurred in the southwestern part of the country. “Today Valle del Cauca is getting rid of a narco-terrorist,” Molano commented on his Twitter.

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