Two soldiers were killed on Sunday while thwarting an alleged FARC attack on a controversial hydroelectric project in the state of Antioquia, according to a press release by the Colombian National Army..
The construction of Colombia’s largest hydro-dam, Hidroituango, in the is slated to be completed in 2018.
Earlier this month, a Colombian human rights and environmental NGO released a report condemning human rights abuses and violations surrounding the construction of the mega-dam on Colombia’s second largest river.
Two civilian leaders of the Rios Vivos Movement have been murdered in the fight against the Ituango hydro project.
MORE: Colombia’s largest hydro-dam project stirs violence, human rights abuses: report
Sunday’s press release by the national army called for guerrilla groups to stop their attacks on against infrastructure, military, and the civilian population, saying that these acts “contradict [the FARC’s] much touted fight for the Colombian people.”
After an uptick of hostilities following the presidential elections, President Juan Manuel Santos stated in July that FARC is “digging its own grave” with bombing attacks on Colombian infrastructure that could put an end to the peace talks.
MORE: ‘FARC is digging its own grave’ with attacks on infastructure: Santos
Meanwhile, the FARC’s top commander Rodrigo Londoño, alias “Timochenko,” has expressed his doubts that a peace deal with the Colombian government could be reached by the end of 2014, according to an interview published two weeks ago.
MORE: Peace deal unforeseeable by end of year: FARC’s top commander
Sources
- COMUNICADO DE PRENSA (The National Colombian Army)
- HAN VENIDO POR EL AGUA: Informe Semestral (Movimiento Ríos Vivos Antioquia)
- Combates Entre El Ejército Y Las Farc En Antioquia (Ejercito Nacional de Colombia)
