This residual organized armed group (GAO-r) had allegedly recruited the minor, a foreigner, at the age of 13. He had traveled under false promises from Catatumbo region to southern Bolívar to bolster the armed component of Structure 37.
Troops of the Rainforest Battalion No. 48 of the Nineteenth Brigade of Colombian National Army protected and disassociated a minor who was in serious danger posed by the residual organized armed group 37 Martín Caballero, in the municipality of Santa Rosa del Sur, department of Bolívar.
According to the information collected, she was being held and threatened by this outlaw organization under menaces to attack her life. The minor, in order to protect herself, ran away accompanied by her partner and reneged a confrontation against members of the GAO-R. During the exchange of rifle shots, she was injured in one of her hands by a firearm strike.
Because of this injury, she arrived at the municipal health center to be assisted, but the process was interrupted because alleged members arrived there to look for her on the orders of alias Danilo, the ringleader of the illegal organization. These individuals, using their terrorist support networks, were trying to thwart her escape and attack her again.
Hospital staff established contact with the battalion for the protection of the minor. The soldiers evacuated the minor and set up a space with safe conditions where she was given immediate pre-hospital care and work is underway to preserve her life.
Following the established protocols for the protection of children, she was immediately put into custody of the Municipal Family Commissariat to begin the process of restoring her rights in coordination with the authorities.
An emergency humanitarian flight was coordinated to send her to a higher-level hospital, where she will receive the specialized medical assistance necessary for the recovery of the wound in her hand.
Colombian National Army reiterates its unwavering commitment to the protection of human rights and, in particular, to the defense of Colombian children and adolescents.
We categorically reject the use of minors in the armed conflict by terrorist groups such as the GAO-r 37 Martín Caballero and we will continue to carry out operations to safeguard the life and integrity of the inhabitants.
Source: Press – National Army
