The president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, reported this Monday the death of eight members of the Carolina Ramírez Front, commanded by alias 'El Tigre' or 'Pintado', after a new action by the Military Forces in the department of Guaviare, in the south of the country.
The head of State detailed that, within the framework of "Operation Azarías", "eight members of the structure" lost their lives, while three others were detained. In addition, the military managed to rescue two other people, who are suspected to be minors and "whose identity is being verified", after having been recruited by said armed organization.
"Abundant war and logistics material was also found. Alias 'El Tigre' is accused of directing terrorist actions in Guaviare, Amazonas, Putumayo, and Caquetá, attacking units of our Public Force and promoting the criminal recruitment of children and adolescents. In addition, he is wanted through an Interpol circular," the president indicated on social media.
De la Espriella emphasized that the military offensive "continues" and that the deployed units "maintain pressure" on the Carolina Ramírez Front. "We are verifying if alias 'El Tigre' is among the dead in the course of the operation. We will only confirm it when there is full identification," added the Colombian president.
The Carolina Ramírez Front is a dissident faction of the FARC integrated into the Central General Staff (EMC), under the leadership of alias 'Iván Mordisco'. Its area of action is concentrated in the southern zone of the country, with a notable presence in the departments of Putumayo, Caquetá, and Amazonas.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Defense communicated the day before that at least ten members of the Jorge Suárez Briceño Block, structure of 'Calarcá', died in an operation carried out on August 27 in the municipality of El Retorno, in Guaviare. In that same action, one of its members was captured and "a minor" was rescued after having been recruited by the group.
"At the bombing site, the following were seized: 19 rifles, seven machine guns, 15 handguns, a 60-millimeter mortar, 22 mortar grenades, eight 40-millimeter grenades, 174 magazines, 184 anti-personnel mines, 20 drone grenades, and more than 29,000 ammunition," it has specified in a statement.
"Forensic Medicine established that three of the deceased members were minors. Their recruitment and use by armed groups constitutes a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law and a war crime," he added.