The National Liberation Army (ELN, Guevara), officially the last organization to continue the armed struggle in Colombiathreatened to impose a three-day siege on the country on Sunday in protest of President Ivan Duce’s government, but authorities have said that law enforcement guarantees freedom of movement for persons and goods.
“Against Duke and his unworthy government, the National Liberation Army is announcing an armed strike across the nation,” an ELN statement issued Wednesday distributed through its WhatsApp and Telegram accounts.
The organization often threatens to restrict the freedom of movement of individuals in areas it controls or considers its spheres of influence, but rarely does so at national level.
The document, which is not signed by any of the leaders of the armed organization, does not contain any details on how this “armed strike” will take place, if roadblocks are set up, for example.
“The population will not be able to move” except for “funerals or if they need to go to the hospital due to an emergency health problem,” the ELN added, warning drivers to “obey” their order not to drive on the streets.
Defense Minister Diego Molano denounced the announcement, which he said had the sole purpose of “instilling fear in Colombians”.
“The ELN has ‘cowardly leaders’ who are ‘hiding in Venezuela,'” Molano said.
“All our security forces are developed (…) to guarantee freedom of movement and transport,” he assured.
Following the disarmament and disbandment of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the ELN is considered to be the last active guerrilla organization in the Andean country, where other armed factions continue to operate, especially far-right FARC insurgents. and gangs, which claim control of highly lucrative drug trafficking.
The ELN, which operates mainly in the border areas with Venezuela and the county of the Caucasus (southwest), has about 2,450 fighters, according to the independent Colombian Institute for Research INDEPAZ.
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