Colombia’s top military commander, General Erik Rodríguez, is urging citizens not to let the killing of soldiers and police officers fade into the background of the country’s long-running conflict. His comments came after members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), a leftist guerrilla group still active despite decades of peace efforts, attacked an army battalion in Ocaña, a city in the northern department of Norte de Santander, on a recent Friday night.
According to Colombia’s Defense Ministry, ELN fighters used explosive-laden drones to strike inside the base, killing Captain Marco David Pirajón Montezuma and professional soldiers Joel Alberto Jiménez Jaramillo and Jhon Carlos Marrugo Manjarrez. The attack highlights how armed groups are increasingly relying on drone technology to hit military targets while keeping their own fighters out of harm’s way.
General Rodríguez praised the three men as examples of Colombians who “stepped forward” to protect others, but stressed that honoring them with tributes isn’t enough. “Their deaths cannot become just another piece of news,” he said, warning against a society that grows numb to the killing of those who serve to protect it. He called for public outrage to translate into collective action rather than mere statements of condemnation.
To read the full story and more details, check out the original report on El Tiempo.
Source: ‘No basta con condenar el terrorismo’: el llamado del general Erik Rodríguez tras ataque que mató a tres militares (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: mark6mauno, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).