A new military strategy was launched by the Fifth Division of the Army with its units deployed in the south of the department of Tolima, in order to guarantee security in the region, through a deployment of troops in strategic points of the department.
The Sixth Brigade and its Operational Command Zeus, the Military Gaula (Anti-Extortion and Anti-Kidnapping Group) of Tolima, the Ground Combat Battalions 18 and 19 and the “Caicedo” Battalion as well as the Comprehensive Action Support Battalion 5 will be in charge of leading the operational efforts in the most vulnerable zones in order to guarantee security and also block the presence of outlaw armed groups.
A new military operation is taking place in this important area of the department of Tolima, an area that for years was the theater of bloody episodes of terrorism. Today through a unified and interagency operation in coordination with civil and military authorities of the department of Tolima, the support of the National Police and security agencies a new strategy has been planned to fight extortion, the threats of residual groups and criminal groups that intend to take the region again.
With the participation of regional and local authorities of southern Tolima, delegates of the Attorney General's Office, delegates of the UN, Municipal Representative of Planadas, National Police, representatives of regional merchants and local leaders met yesterday in Planadas, Tolima, in the frame of the Operation Security and Entrepreneurship Workshop, which seeks to work on different areas and threats in the region. These situations were analyzed jointly and a new comprehensive plan for the security of the South of the department of Tolima was created. It is an effort to be conducted with departmental and municipal authorities with the support of international cooperation agencies that lead development strategies and initiatives for the consolidation of the region based on strategic sector such as Chaparral, Planadas, Ataco and Ríoblanco, in an area of 5,976 kilometers inhabited by approximately 110 thousand people.
With a comprehensive and institutional presence to support projects to improve living conditions in the region, the Fifth Division of the army will lead a new effort involving a coordinated process that optimizes the articulation of state efforts to ensure a safe environment for the strengthening of democratic institutions and regional development.
The consolidation works will continue to build progress in the south of Tolima in the hands of the National Government and the unrestricted support of the Military Engineers, managers of important infrastructure works such as the track connecting Gaitanía and Planadas, a route that gave hope to hundreds of inhabitants who for years endured the inclemency of long trips on impassable roads that slowed the progress and communication in the south of the department.
Source: Fifth Division Army
