The ELN kills 3 police officers in Colombia on the verge of initiating the ceasefire

He National Liberation Army (ELN) killed three policemen on Tuesday in the catatumboin the northeast of Colombiathe same day that the guerrilla Central Command ordered a ceasefire from Thursday to all its ranks.

Members of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Colombian Police transport the body of a murdered policeman, today, in the municipality of El Zulia, in the department of Norte Santander (Colombia). EFE/ Mario Caicedo (Mario Caicedo/)

One of the uniformed Samir Jose Vegadied in the municipality of tibuin the department of North of Santanderr (border with Venezuela), after being shot by a sniper while on guard duty in the sector the oil.

The director of the National Police, General William SalamancaHe assured on his Twitter account: “Today I am overwhelmed by deep pain at the loss of our patrol car Samir Vega, who offered his life protecting the Tibú community. All our solidarity with his respected family. We will find those responsible for his murder. Peace in his grave”.

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Also this Tuesday two other police officers lost their lives in the municipality of the Zuliawhich borders cucutaborder region with Venezuela.

the uniformed Jerson David Cuevas Pineda and Renson Garcia Castro were shot by alleged members of the THE Nwho stole their regulatory weapons and fled, while they were having breakfast in a place located in the sector of the alexandra.

The death of the three police officers adds to the criminal actions that have been taking place in Cúcuta and areas of the department since early today, when the guerrilla celebrates the 59th anniversary of its creation and has left explosive cylinders on roads, flags, graffiti and banners.

Relatives cry after the murder of a policeman, today, in the municipality of El Zulia, in the department of Norte Santander (Colombia). EFE / Mario Caicedo

However, also this Tuesday, the ELN Central Command ordered all its structures to cease “all offensive military actions against the Military and Police Forces throughout the national territory.” from July 6 to August 3when the national bilateral ceasefire officially begins for 180 days agreed with the Colombian Government.

It is a way of fulfilling the period of “enlistment” that the guerrilla and the government agreed in Havana in the third round of negotiations and which entails a national bilateral ceasefire from August 3with a period since July 6 preparation between the two parties.

The structures of the THE N Intelligence actions must also cease from this Thursday, but defense and security devices will remain activated “to respond to threats or attacks from any establishment or Armed group against our units or against the civil population”.

Source: Elcomercio