Violence in Colombia: Bomb Attack Wounds 17 in Morales, Cauca Department
Background: Colombia’s Long-Standing Conflict
Colombia is still struggling to emerge from six decades of armed conflict between leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries, drug cartels, and government forces. The country has seen a recent uptick in violence as peace talks with remaining groups have broken down several times since a deal inked in 2016 led to the disarmament of the FARC, then the biggest guerrilla army in the world.
Bomb Attack in Morales, Cauca Department
On Monday, an apparent bomb attack rocked the town of Morales, Cauca department, wounding 17 people, including three children and two police officers. The device, likely a bomb attached to a motorcycle, exploded outside a police station in Morales. A seven-year-old girl was hospitalized with serious injuries, and two police officers required treatment.
Eyewitness Account
Deily Otero, one of the victims, shared her harrowing experience with AFP. "They took me to the hospital because I couldn’t hear and see well," she said. "I was having lunch at a nearby restaurant when the explosion went off. I looked at the police officers, I saw them on the ground and I saw the children… and the motorcycle on fire."
Attribution of the Attack
Cauca police chief Giovanni Torres attributed the attack to rebel fighters of the Central General Staff (EMC), a splinter group of the FARC that rejected the peace agreement.
Regional Context
The UN Human Rights Office warned on Monday that there has been an "expansion and consolidation" of armed groups in different parts of Colombia. There are hotspots of fighting in the country’s northeast, northwest, and southwest. Last week, four bomb attacks in two cities near Colombia’s border with Venezuela injured six people, prompting officials to declare an overnight curfew. That attack was blamed on the ELN guerrilla group.
Conclusion
The bomb attack in Morales, Cauca department, is a sobering reminder of the ongoing violence in Colombia. As the country continues to navigate the complexities of its long-standing conflict, it is essential to address the root causes of the violence and work towards lasting peace and stability.
FAQs
- Who was injured in the bomb attack?
- 17 people, including three children and two police officers, were wounded.
- Who is responsible for the attack?
- The attack was attributed to rebel fighters of the Central General Staff (EMC), a splinter group of the FARC that rejected the peace agreement.
- What is the current state of the peace process in Colombia?
- Colombia is still struggling to emerge from six decades of armed conflict, with ongoing violence and peace talks with remaining groups breaking down several times since a deal inked in 2016.