FARC dissidents release a kidnapped soldier

Dissidents from the FARC on Tuesday they released a soldier who had been kidnapped in early November in the region colombian from Catatumbo, on the border with Venezuela, where last Friday another soldier kidnapped by the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) was also handed over.

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“We are happy that this person regains his freedom and can be reunited with his loved ones. Our humanitarian work aims to alleviate the suffering caused by armed conflicts, ”said Philippe Frison, head of the sub-delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Bucaramanga.

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For its part, the Ombudsman’s Office detailed on Twitter that the soldier is Dayan Leonardo Ávila Chona, who lost his freedom on November 4 due to a dissidence from the 33rd Front of the former FARC guerrilla, and was handed over to a humanitarian mission made up of that body, the ICRC and the Catholic Church.

1/2 Through a humanitarian mission made up of @DefensoryCol, Catholic Church and @CICR_co The liberation of the soldier Dayan Leonardo Ávila Chona was achieved, who was in the power of the 33rd front of the FARC dissidents since November 4, in Ábrego, Norte de Santander. pic.twitter.com/ajMUrhnRlF

– Ombudsman’s Office (@DefensoriaCol) November 16, 2021

The uniformed man was assessed by ICRC health personnel, who said he was in good condition, and was then taken to an Army military base in Norte de Santander, a department of which Catatumbo is a part.

“This operation was possible thanks to the trust of the parties involved. We are ready to lend our good offices as a neutral organization with a strict humanitarian purpose, in order to facilitate the release of people who are in the power of armed actors, ”added Frison.

This year the ICRC has facilitated that 17 people who were in the hands of armed actors have regained their freedom in humanitarian operations.

Last Friday, the ELN released the soldier Huber Fabián Chogó, kidnapped on September 18 in the rural area of ​​El Tarra, in Catatumbo.

The young military man affirmed at the time of his release, after 54 days in captivity, that he received “good treatment and food,” and that he is “happy” because, as he said, “I am going out to see my family again”, as stated listen to a video broadcast by the guerrillas on their channels.

The kidnappings of the military and police by this guerrilla in the Catatumbo area are frequent, where they are normally held for several weeks and released after the mediation of bodies such as the Ombudsman’s Office or the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Catatumbo, also one of the poorest and most forgotten regions of Colombia, is part of the municipalities of Ábrego, Convencion, El Carmen, El Tarra, Hacarí, La Playa, San Calixto, Sardinata, Teorama and Tibú.

In this region, which borders Venezuela, there is a presence of the ELN guerrillas and several FARC dissidents, as well as a stronghold of the Popular Liberation Army (EPL) and other gangs that are fighting over corridors for drug trafficking and crops. of coca.

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Deshawn