The ELN announced Monday they will re-adapt their tactics to confront the new offensive plan put into action by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, in a message divulged on the guerilla group’s website.
On their website, the ELN group said they consider Santos, who assumed the presidency in August 2010, to be the return of “carrot-on-a-stick politics,” in contrast to the “social movement pursuit” characterized by previous Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. By this, the ELN explained, they mean that “Santos has continued the imperial politics of terrorism in the country, and the dirty war against the people” with the worsening of killings, assassinations of human rights and rural campaign leaders, and the reactivaction of paramilitary groups.
“In spite of the offensive action taken by the President, the social movement and the leftists continue battling, constructing new spaces of convergence, preparing for new work, and renovating hopes,” added the rebel group, the second largest in Colombia behind the FARC.
“[We are] also revising our tactics, looking for ways to correct, rewrite, and firmly maintain our dreams and ideals,” the ELN reported.
On Sunday, at a commemorative speech for the 192nd anniversary of the Battle of Boyaca that marked the Country’s independence, Santos admitted that security forces should also adjust their doctrines, operations, and procedures to meet the changing strategies of rebel groups.
“I’ve ordered the Ministry of Defense to revise their territorial control, including the control of our borders, to make a more effective and efficient use of our forces,” Santos said.
