Cauca and Nariño, besieged by armed groups and drug traffickers 2:24
(CNN Spanish) --
The Government of Colombia announced the implementation of a curfew and other measures to reinforce security in the department of Arauca after the explosion of a car bomb left at least one dead and five injured in the city of Saravena, reported this Thursday at a press conference the Minister of Defense, Diego Molano.
The official added that the explosion also affected more than 100 commercial establishments, public entities and homes.
The curfew will apply to the municipalities of Arauca, Arauquita, Fortul and Saravena.
According to Molano, it was a measure promoted by the governor of Arauca, Alejandro Navas Ramos, who accompanied him at the press conference.
The minister said that the measure will serve to "articulate the efforts of our security forces in terms of public order measures."
145 social leaders and human rights defenders were murdered in Colombia in 2021, according to the Ombudsman's Office
Molano indicated that the curfew will be in force in Arauca capital from 10 PM to 5 AM, while in the municipalities of Fortul, Saravena and Arauquita it will be in force from 9 PM to 4 AM.
Credit: Colombian Ministry of Defense
The minister added that this measure seeks to "prevent, control and anticipate terrorist acts, which allow us a space to restore public order in these municipalities."
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At the conference, Molano also said that intelligence information had determined that the attack had been orchestrated by dissidents from the demobilized guerrilla of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) operating in Venezuela, as part of a struggle for control from the area with the National Liberation Army (ELN).
Molano announced rewards for the leaders of the groups and in particular for the alleged perpetrator of the attack in Saravena, whom he identified as alias "Antonio Medina", a leader of the FARC dissidents for whose capture is offered up to US$251,644.
Other measures include strengthening regional intelligence mechanisms and accelerating judicial processes for those suspected of being involved in the attacks, Molano said.