The National Liberation Army (ELN) movement apologized on Tuesday for the shooting the previous day by several of its forces against the convoy of the governor of Arauca, in northwestern Colombia, which it defended as a “recognition of self-criticism” although it claimed the politician’s team “did not comply with the order” in the face of inspection while traveling on the road.
The Commander-in-Chief of the National Liberation Army, Emmanuel Vázquez Castaño, announced in a video broadcast on social networks that “our units carried out the counterstrike, but since the order was not followed, they proceeded to lightly and hastily fire on the governor’s truck (of Arauca province, Rinson Martínez). We publicly and self-critically acknowledge our mistake. We know that it could have led to a fatal outcome,” before expressing his “deep” regret. Which he described as an “unfortunate incident” and offered his “apologies” for it.
The paramilitary commander has emphasized on several occasions that this is a “critical self-recognition” regarding the event that occurred on Monday and that he made it within the framework of the “registration and territorial control operation” on the highway between the municipalities of Fortul and Tammen, belonging to the above-mentioned administration.
Furthermore, he promised to conduct “relevant investigations” within the armed group to clarify what happened, although he made clear that “we will be guided by our own laws and regulations,” before recommending that residents pay attention to the signs at their checkpoints.
The governor of Arauca confirmed that his survival from the shooting was a “miracle.” In an interview with Radio Karakol, he estimated that there were eight “heavily armed” men involved in the attack.
“They immediately shot indiscriminately at the main car in which I was traveling with my security director,” he said, before lamenting that because of “these illegal checkpoints set up by armed groups, especially the ELN, we kidnapped our officials from the public prosecutor’s office, the police and the soldiers.”
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