In fulfillment of their constitutional mission, military units went to the village of Los Sauces, in the municipality of La Plata, department of Huila, with the aim of strengthening military operations and with the firm purpose of providing the safety and well-being of the inhabitants of this area of the department.
During the military operation, two platoons that were working in the framework of operations in the area were the object of a sedition carried out by about 500 people from 12 villages, who, under pressure of the residual organized armed group Hernando González Acosta, were forced to prevent the progress of the troops.
According to intelligence information, it was confirmed that people were pressured by members of this illegal structure, under intimidation to be subject to forced displacement and targeted killings, if they did not comply with criminal orders.
The troops were forced to board private vehicles, heading to the populated center of Belén, in the municipality of La Plata.
These operations are part of a systematic strategy of territorial control plans carried out by the GAO-r Hernando González Acosta, with the aim of expanding its criminal operations to carry out selective assassinations, kidnappings and extortions, what is precisely what Colombian National Army wants to prevent in this strategic sector of the Colombian southwest. It is important to mention that in this region, mobility routes converge to strengthen illicit activities.
The Ninth Brigade categorically rejects these practices of pressure and extortion, which attack the freedom and tranquility of rural inhabitants.
Colombian National Army makes an urgent appeal to the national authorities, human rights organizations and international institutions, to accompany the review processes, and to show solidarity with the peasant communities that today are victims of threat, manipulation and coercion by illegal armed structures.
In the same way, these actions will be reported to the authorities so that the corresponding investigations are carried out and action is taken in defense of the inhabitants.
Source: Fifth Division Press
