The Venezuelan Defense Minister denounced on Saturday the
"kidnapping"
of eight soldiers by an armed group of Colombian irregulars, in southwestern Venezuela, near Colombia, an area where fighting with the army is taking place since March 21.
Read also: In Venezuela, the opening gesture of Nicolas Maduro
“During the fighting, eight professional soldiers were captured. We received proof of life on May 9. We denounce to the international community (...) the infamous kidnapping of these soldiers, ”
said Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, in a statement read on television, confirming the announcement made on Monday by an NGO for the defense of human rights. the man.
"We demand from their captors (...) the preservation of their lives and their physical integrity (...) We have made contacts leading to their forthcoming release and the Chancellery (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is coordinating with the Committee International Red Cross to establish a link with our fellow combatants, ”
added the Minister.
On Monday, the NGO Fundaredes, very critical of the government, released a statement from a dissident group of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). In the text, this group said they had
"captured as prisoners of war"
eight soldiers whose identity it gave. He appealed to
"the good offices of the Red Cross"
to whom he said he wanted to hand them over. Joined by AFP, the Red Cross admitted having read the text without wanting to make any other statement, its humanitarian work
"being governed by principles of neutrality and confidentiality".
Since the end of March, the fighting in this region of great insecurity and on the porous border has left 16 dead on the side of the army, according to the official report of the Venezuelan Ministry of Defense which reported
"losses"
inflicted on
the army
. enemy and more than thirty prisoners.
Thousands of civilians fled the area.
Caracas, which regularly reinforces its troops in the area, says it launched operations in March to free its territory from any incursion by Colombian armed groups.
Venezuela accuses these groups of having laid anti-personnel mines and of being at the ankle of narco-trafficking.
He also accuses Colombian President Ivan Duque of being involved.
From a security source in Colombia, these elements are dissidents of the former Farc guerrillas.
Although most of the 13,000 members of the former Marxist guerrilla have laid down their arms,
“dissident”
factions
have not accepted the peace process signed in 2016 in Colombia.
These groups without a unified command, financed by drug trafficking and clandestine mines, have strengthened in isolated areas, according to Colombian military intelligence.
President Nicolas Maduro has acknowledged the possibility that these groups are FARC dissidents.
Usually, the Venezuelan authorities avoid mentioning FARC dissidents.
Despite 2,200 kilometers of common border, Venezuela and Colombia no longer have diplomatic relations since Bogota recognized the opponent Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela in 2019. Relations between the two ideologically opposed neighbors are very tense.