Security update
October 13: a 16-year-old girl among the dead in the Catatumbo bombing, and a hard line before the October 14 march
Here's what happened since the last update, and what each one means.
1A 16-year-old girl among the dead in the Catatumbo bombing
Defense Minister Jorge Mora gave the official result of the bombing of a Front 33 camp, the dissidents of alias "Calarcá", between Tibú and El Tarra in Norte de Santander. 4 people were killed: 3 men and a 16-year-old girl. The authorities count all 4 as members of the group. The coroner's office (Medicina Legal) established that one of the bodies was an adolescent. Troops recovered 10 rifles (the first count said 12), a machine gun, a pistol, a revolver and 3,867 rounds. 3 soldiers were wounded in a minefield. The ministry says the girl had a "continuous combat function", a term from the laws of war, and Mora said: "The Military Forces condemn the recruitment and use of minors." The minister says the operation started at 10 PM on Saturday, October 10. As of Tuesday morning, the president hadn't posted about the girl.
What it meansChildren forced into these groups live in the same camps the army bombs. This was the 4th bombing under this government, and as long as the groups keep forcing children into their ranks, children will be among the dead.
2The president's national address: drones, leaders and the October 14 march
On Monday night, October 12, the president gave a national address, streamed live on his X account. He said: "Narco-terrorism no longer finds a State willing to negotiate the territory." He said the security forces have hit 33 leaders of armed groups, and named alias "La Morocha" and alias "Maxmax" among them. He said a new anti-terrorism law will propose severe penalties for using drones against civilians and the security forces. On the protests, he said: "Not one right less for those who protest in peace, and not one more space for those who destroy and commit urban terrorism." He said that "for years, blockades were allowed to cut off the supply of food and medicine," and that on October 14, when opposition groups have called protests, "the priority is to protect life, prevent violence and let the day go ahead in peace."
What it means for usThe government goes into the October 14 march with a hard line against blockades and violence. Stay away from marches and blockades on Wednesday, October 14, and plan your travel around them.
3A massacre in El Paujil, Caquetá, the 98th this year
On Monday, October 12, a gunman opened fire at a public establishment in El Paujil, Caquetá, and killed 3 men: Víctor Alfonso Osorio Artunduaga, Didier Romero Varela and Franklin Fabián Collazos Murcia. Indepaz says it's the 98th massacre in Colombia this year. No group has been blamed. Indepaz says Front 62 of the dissidents, the Comandos de la Frontera and local gangs are all in the area.
What it means98 massacres by October 12 is about 1 every 3 days this year.
4An arrest after the attack on 2 prison guards in Barranquilla
On October 12, police in Barranquilla arrested Juliánis Paola Altamar Medina, alias "Lucía", for escaping house arrest. The president says she's the coordinator and financier of the gang Los Pepes. Investigators are checking whether she helped plan the October 10 attack that wounded 2 guards from El Bosque prison. A phone seized from her had pamphlets that look like the ones used to threaten the guards.
What it meansIt's the first arrest linked to the attack on the guards, but she's held for the escape, not for the attack. The president calls her role in the attack "a priority line of investigation".
The scorecard
In the address, the president gave his government's numbers: 125,182 kilos of cocaine seized, 32,503 people captured for all crimes, and 70 killed in military operations, 67 of them from the groups he calls narco-terrorists.
What it meansThese are the government's own numbers, given in a speech. We haven't seen the official breakdown behind them.
On social media
His post on the arrest of "Lucía" drew about 105,000 views and 3,400 likes. The replies backed him, with few likes. The most-liked: "Have you noticed that criminals don't laugh anymore when they're captured?" (45 likes) A new theme came up: "Don't show the police officers' faces, I'd recommend that, Mr. President. I'm saying it for the second time, with all respect." (18 likes) Another: "We need a CECOT where criminals never see the light of day again!!!" (5 likes) His national address got less: 50,000 views and 2,400 likes. There, the most-liked critic (9 likes) used insults, called him illegitimate, and said the "social uprising" starts on October 14. A supporter wrote: "That's how you talk, Mr. President, total backing and total support for your decisions... on October 14, young people, DON'T go out and march." (3 likes) Another asked why, if the US alliance is for chasing narco-terrorists, Diosdado Cabello and Iván Márquez are still safe in Venezuela (0 likes). The new themes: protecting the police officers' identities, and October 14 as a flashpoint. This comes from the top replies on X, not a poll.
I support most of this. But it doesn't go far enough. These groups use any space they're given to reset and grow. They need to be crushed, not contained.