San Vicente del Caguan, Colombia.
(Credit: Ombudsman)
(CNN Spanish) ––
Violent incidents occurred early Thursday morning at the facilities of the Emerald Energy oil company, in the department of Caquetá, in southern Colombia, during clashes between security forces and demonstrators protesting against the cessation of company operations.
The National Police and the Secretary of Government of that town report a dead policeman and a farmer, and at least a dozen wounded.
The Ombudsman, Carlos Camargo Assis, affirmed that "this morning Molotov cocktails were thrown and burned the facilities" of the oil company, "which caused clashes between part of the community and the police and military authorities."
For her part, the Secretary of Government of the Department of Caquetá, Sandra Rodríguez Pretel, told local media that "unfortunately we have to report that we already have several police officers in custody."
Camargo Assis said in a statement that “it is unfortunate that, in the framework of the social protests, they have left a policeman and a farmer dead, several policemen with restricted mobility and several injured.
Violent actions and de facto actions only generate more violence and do not facilitate spaces for dialogue between the parties to find agreements”.
The Ombudsman's Office distributed photos of a dozen police officers, most of them sitting on the grass and a situation in which they appear surrounded by protesters.
The protests, which were initially carried out peacefully, began in November 2022 when the multinational Emerald Energy announced the suspension of its oil exploration operations in the area.
advertising
The peasants demand improvements in the access roads to the region and maintain the jobs of the inhabitants of that territory, among other demands.
Due to the seriousness of the situation, President Gustavo Petro ordered the transfer to that territory of more support from the public force and a high-level government commission to try to find a way out of the conflict.
In his Twitter account, Petro said: "At the moment a commission from the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and the Military Forces is leaving to attend to the situation of Pozos in San Vicente del Caguan. I have ordered the acts of violence to stop ".
The Ombudsman's Office regretted the incidents and reiterated its willingness to mediate in the conflict.
The Emerald Energy Company has not yet ruled on this situation.
CNN has tried to communicate with the Chinese multinational but so far it has not been possible to get a response.
ClashesOil