The Third Division of Colombian National Army informs about the events that occurred in the municipality of Argelia and the village of El Plateado, south of the department of Cauca:
1. In the early morning of today, January 23, troops of the Rapid Deployment Force N掳4 began a planned military operation against the criminal structure of the GAO-r Carlos Pati帽o, which maintained an illegal checkpoint that hit the mobility of the inhabitants in the village of La Hacienda, in El Plateado.
2. This operation produced combats against the illegal structure, with the support of the Colombian Aerospace Force. The military operations in this region are focused on recovering key terrains and continuing with the dismantling of terrorist groups that insist on maintaining their activities in the area.
3. In these events, members of this organized armed group struck with an explosive device a community bridge that connected the sector of El Plateado with the village of La Hacienda, in an attempt to stop the work of the troops.
4. At the same time, in the urban area of Argelia, an improvised explosive device, mounted on a motorcycle, was detonated against a patrol of this military unit, which, as a security measure, was escorting the money of the Agrarian Bank to a helicopter.
5. As a result of this situation, five people were injured, including two of the soldiers and three elderly people who were part of the community. Fortunately, everyone is stable and will be evacuated to receive specialized medical assistance due to the damages caused by the explosion.
6. Colombian National Army condemns and denounces these serious violations of IHL and the continuous violation of human rights, which strike at the life and free movement of people, endangering the community. We call on international human rights organizations to join their voices in rejecting these outlaw groups that continue their criminal activities, terrorizing the most vulnerable communities and strengthening their operations through illicit activities derived from drug trafficking.
7. Colombian National Army will continue to carry out sustained military operations with the aim of stabilizing this area of the south of the department of Cauca. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to ensure the safety, good physical condition and well-being of the inhabitants of this region.
