Colombia asked Venezuela on Sunday to investigate allegations that Venezuelan soldiers illegally entered Colombian territory to rob a local farmer.
According to the Colombian Ombudsman, three vehicles with uniformed members of the Venezuelan National Guard arrived at the home of a farmer in the municipality of Cucuta and stole a chainsaw, a scythe and various cans on Thursday night.
The inhabitants also reported that they saw the guards on Friday morning where they were taking pictures of the area near the village of Banco de Arena.
Colombia’s Foreign Ministry said in a press release that it had sent a commission to the area in the Norte de Santander state, to investigate complaints from the community, who has claimed three raids were carried out by the Venezuelan guards.
After listening to local authorities, the Foreign Ministry additionally sent a note to Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry, where they explained the complaints and requested further investigations.
Colombia’s Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin requested a meeting with her Venezuelan counterpart, Elias Jaua, to discuss the situation.
The meeting is set to take place in Paraguay where both ministers are heading to attend a summit of the Organization of American States.
Cucuta, Norte de Santander
Sources
- Cancillería de Colombia envía nota a Venezuela por supuesto traspaso de frontera (El Pais)
- Comunicado de prensa: El Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Colombia envió una comisión a Banco de Arena (Cúcuta) para aclarar lo sucedido (Colombia’s Foreign Ministry)
- Colombia envía nota a cancillería venezolana por traspaso de frontera (Noticias terra)
